Social Club 48 St. David's 50-1

Newly crowned champions St. David's completed a wire to wire run of victories, recording their 14th consecutive Premier League triumph and 17th overall with a rapid dismissal of severely short-handed Social Club yesterday.

Social Club, the home side, arrived with just six members and an unprepared wicket, but St. David's' captain Clay Smith, anxious to finish with a perfect record, took matters in his own hands, rolling and marking the strip (see photo page 29) before promptly sending Social Club in to bat.

As expected, Social complied with a feeble batting display that produced just 48 runs, which the Islanders knocked off in quick time, needing just four overs to achieve the desired result.

Glenn Blakeney cracked two sixes and as many fours on his way to 22 not out, while O.J.Pitcher assisted with an unbeaten 17, sending their side home celebrating a nine-wicket triumph not to mention what has been a momentous year. And more riches may still lie ahead.

St. David's, already with the Camel Cup, Eastern Counties Cup and Premier titles in the bag, now switch their focus to the Champion of Champions season finale next weekend, when they meet arch-rivals and predecessors Western Stars during Saturday's semi-final at Lord's.

"We can't really celebrate all that much right now, because there's still some work to do with the Champion of Champions coming up. After that we'll really let go," said Blakeney, a key component in St. David's arsenal.

"I'm pretty happy about what we did, but I'm more excited for the youngsters to be winning their first few trophies outside of the county."

Blakeney's monster season with the bat, which featured a new record for most runs in a single innings - 245 not out against Willow Cuts - set the tone for many of the wins enjoyed by the Islanders. But the star batsman was reluctant to heap praise upon himself.

"At the beginning of the season, actually when I first came here, they asked me to do the job of leading from the front, and that's what I try to do each time I go to bat," said Blakeney. "But it's really been an overall consistency by the whole team, and a real maturing of our youngsters that have been our greatest asset.

"The boys have really pulled together to get this far, and we're looking to go farther next weekend."

Somerset Bridge 71 Western Stars 72-1

Western Stars secured the second Camel Cup slot with a relatively pedestrian victory over Somerset Bridge at St. John's Field.

Mother Nature proved of greater concern to the home side, who desperately wanted to avoid the risk of incurring a no result while a rival challenger for a top-four spot played and won.

After having the fixture reduced to 32 overs due to a late start, Stars went on their way, dismissing 10-men Bridge for a paltry 71, and then coasting home with time to spare before the heavy deluge of rain fell.

Hasan Durham, Dwayne Leverock and Cleon Scotland shared in the home side's bowling success, each grabbing two wickets, as Andrew Wilson (11) and Corvette Lambert (13) were the only Bridge batsmen to reach double figures.

Treadwell Gibbons Jr top scored for Stars with an unbeaten 27, while opener Gershon Gibbons tallied 22 before retiring to the pavilion.

Lambert took the lone Stars wicket to fall.

The win carried Stars to second place in the Premier league standings on 55 points, 15 behind champions St. David's but, more importantly, five ahead of the chasing pack of St. George's, Bailey's Bay and Southampton.

Warwick 130 St. George's 132-6

St. George's may have saved it late, yet still made it in time for the 'party', squeaking into Camel Cup position with this four-wicket win over Warwick at Wellington Oval.

Dismissing thoughts of a crucial defeat on Saturday, together with a dogged effort from the weather to curtail action, St. George's, after being made to work hard in the field by the visitors, claimed victory as darkness fell over the Oval.

As has been the case for much of the year, opening bowler Herbie Bascome proved key in the result, the dreadlocked paceman combining with fellow pacer Gregg Foggo for a seven-wicket haul.

Bascome grabbed the lion's share with four for 26, while Foggo claimed three for 38 in restricting Warwick, who had Troy Richardson top score with 44, followed by Alan Douglas (25) and Stephen Bremar Jr., (19).

St. George's shared the runs around in their chase, as Sinclair Gibbons emerged high man with 27, while captain Charlie Marshall (26) and Travis Smith (21) each made vital contributions.

The result allowed St. George's to vault into third place, ahead of Southampton and Bailey's Bay on the basis of head to results against each other, with the east enders having beaten both Rangers and Bay.

Bailey's Bay 58-4

PHC (did not bat - match abandoned

Bailey's Bay saw their chances of a top position and place in the Camel Cup literally washed away by yesterday's rains.

Bay, needing victory to assure themselves second place in the Premier League and, with it, position in the prestigious season opening competition, could do little but watch as continual drizzle at White Hill Field prevented much play taking place.

In the end the visitors faced just 14 overs, tallying 58 for four before umpires abandoned the affair.

The result, and corresponding victories by Western Stars, St. George's and Southampton served to bump Bay down from second to fifth, with the Camel Cup rewarding only the top four teams.

Bay, St. George's and Southampton each finished with 50 points, but Bay, having lost to both teams in league play, lost out via the tie-breaker system.

Southampton v Police

(Southampton won by default)

Southampton clinched the final Camel Cup position without so much as bowling a ball when Police arrived with just three players for their scheduled encounter at Southampton Oval.

Willow Cuts 150-2 Devonshire (did not bat - match abandoned)

Flatts v Somerset (pitch not prepared - match abandoned)