Skipper Gordon Campbell stroked an unbeaten half century to guide Forties to a five-wicket victory over North Village in the Commercial Cricket League?s knockout final held over from last season.

Fifty-three-year-old Campbell hit four fours in his 51 not out as Forties lifted the trophy for a record 12th time.

Last season ended in turmoil after West Indian Association threatened to take legal action and refused to follow a league executive committee directive to replay a rain-hit knockout semi-final against Village, claiming they should have been declared winners on the Duckworth/Lewis method.

WIA representative Allan Lee again put the club?s case at last month?s annual meeting but it was rejected by the other clubs present, clearing the way for the Forties-Village final to go ahead seven months late.

However, although the league previously had no provision for Duckworth/Lewis in its rules, the AGM agreed that the D/L method would be used in knockout matches this season, provided an official umpire is present.

Allen Richardson provided the bulk of Village?s 163 for six in their allotted 40 overs in Sunday?s match at Shelly Bay with four boundaries in his 62 after Village skipper Mike Levon, fresh from a trip to Barbados, won the toss and elected to bat but Forties eased home with 25 balls to spare.

Blake West was Forties? most successful bowler, taking two for 21 from the maximum eight overs, while skipper Campbell and David DeSilva chipped in with a wicket apiece. Although he did not take a wicket, Brian Holdipp tied down Village early on with figures of none for 12 from eight overs.

Campbell and his 17-year-old son David, who made 26, added 62 for the fifth wicket to carry Forties within 20 runs of victory, other useful scores coming from DeSilva (27) and opener Harold Minors (22).

Terence Corday, who missed all of last season through injury, finished unbeaten on 11 as Forties reached 164 for five.

The Village attack was hampered by injuries to Mike Young (hamstring) and Andrew Paynter (foot) sustained while batting which prevented them from bowling.

Reggie Benjamin claimed two for 25 from eight overs while Richardson, Kevin Mallory and Kevin Bailey each took a wicket.

Skipper Campbell, who ran six threes, only one of which came from his own bat, despite a dodgy knee and hip, said afterwards: ?This was a good game for the first match of the season and Village pushed us hard. We reached the final last August and it was disappointing we could not play it then ? but it was worth the long wait in the end.?

Forties will head for Shelly Bay again this Sunday when they take on 2004 league champions Jamaican Association in the second annual 40-overs-a-side Memorial match which pits the league champions against the knockout winners, using the old League Cup rules limiting bowlers to five overs apiece.

Forties, the 2003 league champions, beat Jamaican Association, that season?s knockout winners, in the inaugural Memorial match by 48 runs in last season?s opener at Sea Breeze Oval.

This season?s league programme, which could feature as many as eight teams, will start on May 15 but so far only five teams ? including newcomers Western Stars whose first team are Premier Division stalwarts ? have confirmed their participation.

First Division club Warwick have put in a late request to put field a team but uncertainty remains over the continued presence of St. David?s, Devonshire Stars and Fine Leg Byes.