Defending champions Jamaican Association, fresh from their narrow Players? Memorial Trophy win over Forties the previous week, got their new league campaign underway with an emphatic eight-wicket victory over newcomers Western Stars.

North Village, pipped on the run-in for the league title last season, scored at more than seven and a half runs an over to notch up a three-wicket win over a youthful St. David?s while West Indian Association had the better of a tame draw against 10-man Forties in Sunday?s other Commercial League fixture.

The Jamaicans dismissed Western Stars for 108 at Shelly Bay before knocking off the runs in the 25th over, opener Norman Godwin finishing the match in style with a six with the scores level. Godwin also stroked eight fours in his unbeaten 52 while fellow opener Chris Daley made 30 in a stand of 77.

Stars made a cautious start with Kent Todd (12) and Audley Campbell, who also made 12, adding 42 for the first wicket. Perry Scott made 19 and former Somerset Cup Match player Gregory Francis, who later took two for 21 from six overs, looked in good nick until he fell for 18.

Pace bowler David Gibbs, back in the Jamaican fold after his latest stint with Somerset, pinned Stars down with three for 10 from 9.1 overs while Rowan Ramotar took three for 28 from 10 overs and Ralston Wright chipped in with two from 38 from 10 overs.

Team spokesman Allan Brangman, another former Somerset Cup Match player, did umpiring duties but said Stars, who will be using the club?s St. John?s Field pitch whenever it is available, were far from despondent over their defeat.

?I?ll be playing this weekend (against West Indian Association) and we?ll put out a much stronger team,? said 39-year-old Brangman. ?I was pretty pleased with the way we played as we went into the match without any warm-ups because our practice facilities were not ready.?

Shay Pitcher struck 10 boundaries, including two sixes, in an unbeaten 87, and Maclaren Lowe made 28 in a seventh-wicket stand of 54 to propel St. David?s to a useful 182 for eight at Garrison Field, Reggie Benjamin claiming the North Village bowling honours with five for 62 from 16 overs.

Pitcher was dropped on 11 from a regulation catch by Andrew Paynter and there was further frustration for Paynter when he was bowled first ball for a duck.

Former St. George?s Cup Match batsman Allen Richardson, Mr. Reliable in the Village line-up, cracked 10 boundaries, including two sixes, before being caught in the deep for 66 to lay the foundation for his side?s 24-over victory charge which was boosted by 21 wides.

Other useful contributions came from opener Mike Payne (27), Ernest McCallan (23) and skipper Mike Levon (23). Otis Minors claimed the wickets of Richardson and Levon in his two for 11 from two overs while Jamel Woodley took two for 35 from six overs.

Skipper Barry Richards provided the early fireworks in a game that fizzled out by smashing four sixes and 10 fours in his 83 that laid the foundation for West Indian Association?s challenging 226 for six in 40 overs in a game that started late at the Royal Naval Field because organisers of a Saturday night concert were unable to take down a tent until after 1 p.m.

Richards, who will be unavailable for this weekend?s match, dominated an opening stand of 66 with Patrick Hamlett (17) and added 61 for the second wicket with Adrian MacLean, who hit six boundaries in his 39. Stan Francis made 25 not out and Chris Jackson, formerly of now defunct Devonshire Stars, 21.

Forties? most successful bowlers were David DeSilva with three for 51 in nine overs and skipper Gordon Campbell, who took two for 41 in 10 overs.

In reply, Forties limped to 106 for four in 35 overs when both skippers agreed on a draw, WIA taking seven points to Forties? three.

Hampered by a knee injury, opener Braxton Stowe made 45 not out while Junior Watts was the pick of the WIA attack with two for 19 from 10 overs.

Long-term injuries have forced WIA stalwarts Andy Boyce and Olwin Clarke into retirement but in addition to Jackson, the club have also picked up the services of two Trinidadians ? Shameed Abraham, who made 12 on Sunday, and Dan Dubay.

?Our bowlers seemed to have difficulty with left-handers, of which there were five in their top six,? said skipper Campbell whose 17-year-old son David dashed to the ground after being named only a reserve for Social Club. Even so, Forties played short after two other players pulled out on the morning of the match.

Rules introduced in the middle of last season allow players under 18 to move freely between Commercial sides and Premier and First Division clubs.

?WIA were 109 for one after 20 overs and we were quite chuffed at keeping the total as low as we did and in the right circumstances might have overhauled them, but it wasn?t to be.

?We failed to take advantage of some pretty wayward bowling early, partly because Braxton was hobbled and didn?t have much footwork,? added Campbell.