St. David's, whose remodelled team have brought a more youthful look to the Commercial Cricket League, dented the title hopes of 2002 runners-up West Indian Association with a surprise victory - despite a five-wicket haul by the ubiquitous Reginald (Lucky) Pitcher.

WIA's second defeat left them in a group of four 20 points adrift of unbeaten leaders Forties, who made it four wins on the trot by beating Centurions thanks to a six-wicket haul by Blake West, while Devonshire Stars, last season's wooden spoonists, continued their improved form with a Justin Bailey-inspired victory over struggling North Village in Sunday's other match.

Centurions and Village are still seeking their first points of the season.

Pitcher, who played for St. David's Commercial team last season, began this term with BCB First Division club Police - but after his one appearance Police were docked seven points by the Board who apparently ruled Pitcher was ineligible to play because he was still registered with Warwick.

Given the green light to return to the Commercial League, Pitcher picked up five for 50 from 12 overs but failed to stop his former team-mates beating WIA by 33 runs at Shelly Bay.

St. David's reached 173 for nine with Maclaren Lowe hitting a solid 55, Kenny O'Connor a brisk unbeaten 24 and Brent Minors 20 against a WIA attack still missing some of their big guns. Olwin Clarke took two for 40.

Opener Barry Richards made 20 and Andy Boyce hit two sixes in his 58 but St. David's managed to take a wicket every time WIA threatened to get a partnership going. They were still in with a shout, however, until Boyce was eighth out, St. David's wrapping up victory in the 36th over as Chris Pitcher (three for 15), Brent Minors (three for 31) and Jacal Minors (three for 40) took the bowling honours.

"Our (lack of) bowling is killing us," said Richards. "St. David's had good bowling, medium paced but line and length all the time.

"The defeat has set us back but we're hoping to get our main bowlers back soon to renew our challenge," added Richards, whose team lost out on last season's title by a single point to Leg Trappers, who are now enjoying life in the BCB First Division.

All-rounder Bailey was Devonshire Stars' hero against 10-man North Village at Garrison Field, bagging six for 48 from 13.5 overs and then clouting 38 in boundaries in an unbeaten 40 as Stars reached their 114-run victory target in the 30th over with three wickets in hand.

Mike Levon (35) and Wendell Lindsay (20) were the only Village batsmen able to cope with Bailey, Quinton King chipping in with two for 21.

Stars slipped to 84 for seven but Bailey's whirlwind knock following Omar Allen's 24 secured their second victory of the season. Webster Mills led the Village attack with five for 59 from 14.4 overs while Mike Young took two for four.

"We finished bottom last season - now we're two and two and it's looking promising," said Stars' skipper Andr? Smith.

Even without key all-rounder David DeSilva, whose three wickets and unbeaten 46 helped his side beat North Village by five wickets the previous week, Forties proved too strong for newcomers Centurions at the Royal Naval Field, winning by 104 runs.

Forties, average age approaching 50 most weeks, rattled up 230 for eight, Brian Brangman top-scoring on his seasonal debut with five fours and two sixes in an unbeaten 62. There were also useful contributions from Gerald Bean (30), 26 apiece from Gladwin Ingham and 61-year-old Allan Lee, and Harold Minors (21).

Dennis Cherry took three for 22, Simon Lambert two for 40 and Ishwar Narayanan two for 44 for Centurions who were then dismissed for 126 in the 29th over.

West, who finished with six for 54 from 14 overs, was twice on a hat-trick and polished off the innings with three wickets in four balls. He had opener Alistair McNeish caught for 58 (four fours and two sixes), bowled Chris Swan first ball and after having a strong lbw appeal against Cherry turned down with his hat-trick ball bowled him with the next delivery.

"It was another week when we were up on the run rate for most of our innings," said skipper Jeremy Leese, who made 22. "But we just couldn't stay in long enough to finish off the job.

"We have been in with a chance in all of the three games so far but crucial mistakes - batsmen giving their wickets away or dropped catches - at vital times in those games have cost us dearly."