Western Stars 159-7 St. George's 163-5 Skipper Clay Smith led from the front yet again with his fourth straight half-century of the new season as St. George's won the Camel Cup for a record fourth time at Lord's yesterday. Smith paced the east enders to their first Camel Cup triumph in eight years with another disciplined innings, this time stroking 63 not out out including six fours and a six as victory was achieved with just three balls remaining. It was the fourth straight appearance in the final for St. George's who had lost the last three.

Coming in to replace the injured Eugene Foggo at 48-1, Smith contributed to a second wicket stand which produced 87 runs in 29 overs as Jason Anderson at the other end played a vital support role with 37.

Anderson was involved in a couple of near run outs while batting with the injured Foggo who needed a runner. On the first occasion the runner, Lionel Cann, survived an appeal for a run out at the bowler's end after Foggo's skied catch to short mid-wicket was dropped by Mark Trott.

After protests by Stars players the incident became heated as a confrontation between Cann and some of his opponents resulted in some shoving. After the second unsuccessful run out, Foggo retired hurt to end the confusion and allow his captain to come to the crease to partner Anderson in a match-saving stand.

"The person who won this game for us today was Jason Anderson who I thought batted tremendously well,'' said skipper Smith.

"He batted with a lot of patience and that is his best knock ever in the Premier Division, without a doubt. We want to encourage him and he loves to bat the faster stuff so we put him up to number three and let him do the job.'' Smith's knock followed the 73 he scored in the four-wicket win over Police in the semi-finals on Saturday, and has already taken him to 319 runs.

"Some may think it's unrealistic but I'm looking to score over 1,300 runs this year,'' said the Athlete of the Year.

"Normally people look to 1,000 but in order to maintain my standard I have to set myself a bigger target.'' Stars knew their hopes of protecting a modest total hinged on Smith's wicket, but it never came even though Arnold Manders rotated his five bowlers in his bid for a breakthrough.

They did get three wickets late in the innings when Ricky Hodsoll, Clevie Wade and Mark Ray went in the space of 18 runs but victory was already in the bag as 29 was needed in the last seven overs and then two from the final over from Dale Fox.

Gary Brangman was the best bowler for Stars with two for 28 off nine overs while Manders claimed one for 28 and Mark Trott and Fox one each for 34.

Stars, sent in, never recovered from the loss of key batsman Albert Steede in the third over. He was caught at wide mid-off by Mark Ray off Herbie Bascome for a duck.

Another setback came in the eighth over when Treadwell Gibbons was bowled by Gregg Foggo, his last over of the match before going off injured.

Stars improved from 47-4 to 95-5 between the 19th and 35th overs when Arnold Manders and Ricky Brangman launched a recovery.

Both Manders and Brangman scored 31 and Gary Brangman matched that late in the innings with his unbeaten 31 from five boundaries as Stars scored 44 in the last five overs before the cut-off time of 3.30 ended their innings five overs early.

Lionel Cann claimed three for 38 and Bascome two for 28 for St. George's.

On Saturday, Stars beat Willow Cuts by seven wickets after dismissing them for 99 at Southampton Oval. St. George's dismissed Police for 171 at Somerset.

CLOSE CALL -- Hasan Durham of Western Stars gets home just in time to beat this direct throw in a run out attempt during yesterday's Camel Cup final.

Watching are Lionel Cann and wicketkeeper Jason Anderson of St. George's.

Photos by Tony Cordeiro BOWLED -- Western Stars batsman Treadwell Gibbons is yorked by Gregg Foggo of St. George's after scoring two in yesterday's Camel Cup final at St. David's.