Newcomers Centurions finally broke their Commercial Cricket League duck at the fifth attempt with a six-run victory over fellow strugglers North Village, Jamaican Association edged St. David's but there was no stopping leaders Forties who defeated West Indian Association by five wickets to notch up their fifth successive win.

Forties' victory, masterminded by Gordon Campbell's six-wicket haul, was sweet revenge for three defeats by WIA last season, one that sent Forties tumbling out of the Knockout and two in the league, the second an agonising one-run reverse that cost them the title at the final hurdle.

Ten-man Centurions had to wait until the 42nd over at Shelly Bay on Sunday to be certain of clinching their first victory as Troy Berkeley bagged two wickets to leave Village stranded at the bottom of the table without a point.

Village began the final over requiring 10 to win and their fate was sealed when Mike Levon, with five boundaries in a valiant 65 at number seven, eschewed the chance to play for a "losing" draw, went for a big hit and was bowled off the penultimate ball. Berkeley finished with four for 29 from 11.5 overs.

Centurions' 170 was built around useful innings by Ishwar Narayanan (39), Berkeley (34, including three sixes), Russell Dey (30) and Peter Backeberg (21). Village's most successful bowlers were Allan Walker, who claimed four for 20 from 8.3 overs, and Webster Mills who took two for 32.

Village slumped to 34 for five in reply but Levon, assisted by Ritchie Foggo, who hit 39 on his seasonal debut, and Mills (20) lifted them off the ropes and combined to run Centurions close. The other main wicket-takers were Dennis Cherry (three for 33) and Paul Lindo (two for 61).

"We were missing half of our first team so it was good to get a result," said Centurions' skipper Jeremy Leese. "Both teams played hard but fair and both went all out for the win."

Forties' 51-year-old skipper Campbell, once one of the league's fastest bowlers but now reduced to delivering what he calls slow drifters because of an arthritic right knee, scythed through WIA's lower order as their last seven wickets tumbled for a paltry 20 runs at the Royal Naval Field.

David DeSilva, whose two for 17 took his tally for the season to 13 wickets at an average of 5.07, removed openers Barry Richards and Jerry Callender cheaply but Andy Boyce and Olwin Clarke forged a belligerent fourth-wicket partnership of 123, carrying the total to 155 for three in 25 overs, before Campbell returned to end the fireworks as WIA subsided to 175 all out.

Boyce blasted five sixes and five fours in his 65 while Clarke clouted eight sixes and three fours in his 68, Campbell finishing with six for 30 from 7.3 overs.

A commanding knock of 77 by Braxton Stowe and an unbeaten 35 from Brian Brangman, who is using a bat he repaired after WIA's master blaster Barry Richards threw it away last season when a piece fell off the bottom, helped guide Forties to an emphatic victory in the 36th over.

Stowe, who struck seven fours and four sixes, needed a runner for his last 40 runs after pulling a hamstring before falling to fatigue.

Clevon Cunningham, WIA's leading bowler this term with 12 wickets, took three for 32.

"They outplayed us," admitted acting skipper Richards. "We're not playing good cricket this season. We can't seem to get the team together we'd like."

Although fast bowler Stan Francis returned to the side on Sunday, Junior Watts and regular skipper Dave Greenidge were missing. WIA have also lost the services of Richard Austin, who is now playing for BCB First Division team, Police.

Second-placed Jamaican Association prevailed by just nine runs against St. David's in an absorbing match switched to Saltus Grammar School after the men were muscled out of Garrison Field by a group of women who were given permission to stage a cricket match of their own at the east end ground, one of three regularly used by the league.

The Jamaicans overcame the loss of three early wickets to reach 217, thanks largely to a gritty 75 from Presley Millwood and useful knocks from Clive Barrett (41), Junior Lindo (27) and Rowan Ramotar (25). St. David's best bowlers were Jacal Minors (three for 45) and Chris Pitcher (two for 21).

Despite losing Ricky Foggo in the first over, St. David's raced to 96 for three in 14 overs and moved on to 154 for four at the 28-over mark but as vice-captain Granville Bennett said afterwards, "it all went horribly wrong" in the final session when the last five wickets fell for 34, the east enders slipping to 208 all out.

Earlier, Maclaren Lowe made 50 and left-hander Jahson Smith blasted 30, including 18 off one Ramotar over. Bennett (29), Pitcher (27), skipper Ernest McCallan (21) and an unbeaten 21 from Brent Minors kept St. David's in the hunt until the end.

Ralston Wright, president of the Jamaican Association, impressed with four for 41 from 12 overs, Ramotar recovered from his first-over mauling to take three for 49 and Lloyd Morrison chipped in with two for 44.