Newcomers Sandys Community Youth Club have become the first casualties of the Commercial Cricket League this season.

The club, whose talented teenagers brought a breath of fresh air to the league after being admitted at the expense of Public Transportation Board, have agreed to withdraw at the half-way point of the season.

A disappointed Gerald Fubler, the team spokesman, confirmed the withdrawal yesterday, blaming summer jobs and other interests including boating for the club's current problems in raising a side.

The club defaulted their Father's Day fixture against St. David's at Lord's and their home game against West Indian Association at the Royal Navy Field on Sunday was not played amid conflicting reports.

WIA skipper John McConnie said he had nine players ready for a 12.30 p.m.

start while Fubler said he had a team earlier but some players became discouraged and left the ground.

McConnie said there were only five youth club players present when his team arrived.

The points have been awarded to WIA although league secretary Dave Carruthers said a review would be made to decide whether to delete the youth club's record altogether or let the first-half points stand.

The youth club, who faced automatic expulsion after missing two matches, lost all five games they completed and their only reward was five points from a rain-ruined fixture against Devonshire Stars. Their players are free to join other clubs.

The youth club were due to have a bye on July 11 and the scheduled fixtures for that date will stand although Carruthers said he would draw up a new schedule for the remainder of the season.

Late starts and sluggish over rates have often been the bane of the league and ambidextrous George Cannonier's unbeaten 123 -- the league's highest score this season -- was in vain as St. David's had to settle for a share of the points against North Village in a game at Garrison Field in which only 71 overs were completed.

Watford Sports Club, boosted by the inclusion of former Premier players Quinton Burch and Trent Lightbourne, missed the chance to challenge for the lead when they failed to capitalise on three dropped catches and made a hash of beating front-running Forties at Shelly Bay.

Watford, who needed a run-a-ball 30 runs from the last five overs with four wickets in hand -- a doddle for most teams in the recent World Cup -- managed only 13 runs, lost two wickets in the process and had to settle for three points to old rivals Forties' seven.

Defending champions Hemisphere Leg Trappers halted a run of three consecutive defeats to revive their title hopes by crushing their former bogey team Jamaican Association by eight wickets at Nationals.

Cannonier, who switched to batting right-handed earlier in the season because of a back complaint and lashed 78 against Leg Trappers, was in awesome form on Sunday, hammering seven sixes and eight fours in his unbeaten century.

He survived a controversy on 18 when Village's Cleve Trott claimed a catch on the long-on boundary -- a dispute that held up the match for several minutes -- but was awarded a six and he also gave a chance when he was on 78.

Cannonier's century propelled St. David's to an imposing 213 for seven as Village's opening bowlers Derek Bell (three for 91) and Chris Caisey (two for 74) toiled for 16 overs apiece. Skipper Dion Ball chipped in with two for 21.

Andy Boyce struck six fours and a six in an unbeaten 54 in Village's reply of 117 for four but after 29 overs the captains called the game off at 7.50 p.m.

Eddie Lamb picked up three for 30.

New Zealander Terry Ward, often the architect of Watford successes in the past, must still be wondering how he let victory slip from his grasp as he survived a chance at mid-off when he was on three to complete a half century.

Chasing Forties' 160 with 43 overs at their disposal, Ward and Timmy Simons (11) carried the score from 92 for six to 131 for six at the end of the 38th over.

Five runs came in the 39th over but only one run was added in the 40th over when Simons, who had been given a life, was caught. Ward and George Rock added seven more runs in the 41st over but then Ward lofted a simple catch to point in the next over, his 57 including four fours and a six, and the chance of victory was lost.

Earlier skipper Gordon Campbell, who hit his fourth half century of the season, added 52 for the first wicket with Harold Minors (22) and the 100 came up in the 19th over with only two wickets down.

But Campbell, whose 50 included four fours, was deceived by a slower ball by Terence Corday who picked up three wickets in his second spell to undermine the innings. Ward also chipped in with three for 38 while Burch took two for 16.

Burch was run out for 13 and Lightbourne, dropped on four, made 20 as Watford slipped to 71 for five before Ward engineered a recovery as Brian Holdipp and Wayne Frost picked up two wickets apiece.

Irishman Gary Proctor had his opponents in a spin, snapping up four for five in four overs, as Jamaican Association were bundled out for 108. Ian Coke made 25 while there were two wickets each for James Swan and David Hosier.

Opener Gary Knight, with five boundaries in his 47, and an unbeaten 31 from in-form Damion Henderson, helped Leg Trappers coast to 109 for two in the 26th over.