The hottest Commercial Cricket League title race for years will take a Cup Match holiday pause this weekend with just three points now separating the top three teams after West Indian Association were beaten for the first time this season.

Defending champions St. David's put a big dent in WIA's hopes by pipping them by one wicket at Lord's on a damp weekend highlighted by the novelty of having senior umpires, who would otherwise have enjoyed the day off, officiating at three of the four matches.

Challengers Forties, who joined WIA on 90 points, and third-placed Leg Trappers (87 points) both won to set up an intriguing finish with just three rounds of matches left.

In Sunday's other match North Village romped to a 98-run victory over bottom club Devonshire Stars, thanks to all-rounders Derek Bell and Chris Caisey who both starred with bat and ball.

The appearance of senior umpires was widely applauded by teams and a league spokesman said: "It was a pleasure to have them come out and we greatly appreciate their efforts."

WIA have to meet both Leg Trappers - now the only unbeaten team but with two fewer victories than their main rivals - and Forties in the closing weeks. Trappers take on WIA when action resumes on August 11 after the one-week break while Forties face WIA on the final Sunday.

"It's still anybody's title," said Forties' skipper Gordon Campbell. "But we have the horses to win the race."

WIA's free-scoring skipper Barry Richards blamed dropped catches for his side's defeat on Sunday, saying: "We just handed over the game to them on a platter."

Richards, who led the way by blasting 10 fours and two sixes in his 74, was fourth out at 149, his dismissal sparking a collapse which saw the next six wickets tumble for 45 runs. Olwin Clarke (28) and John McConnie (21) chipped in with useful scores but 16-year-old Luvince Tota swept away the lower order with four for 20 on his debut.

Government MP Arthur Pitcher, who later made a crucial 31 batting at number seven, claimed three for 42 while hard-hitting Reginald Pitcher took two for 49.

Although fast bowler Stan Francis snapped up five for 57 from 19.5 overs, Richards said Shea Pitcher (41) and Reginald Pitcher, who hammered nine fours and three sixes in his 68, were both dropped twice as WIA let the game slip away. Although the ninth wicket fell at 189, skipper George O'Brien and last man Granville Bennett got the six runs needed to claim victory.

Number seven batsman Junior Lindo, who hit six fours in his unbeaten 55, helped lift Jamaican Association from a perilous 50 for seven to 122 at Shelly Bay but Forties survived a middle-order wobble to reach their target in the 23rd over with four wickets in hand.

David DeSilva (three for 20) and Terence Corday (two for 29) put the brakes on the Jamaican scoring while Brian Brangman (44) and Gladwin Ingham (21) ensured maximum points for Forties. Norman Godwin and Clive Barrett took two wickets apiece for the Jamaicans. The only disappointment was that despite Butler's efforts no senior umpires turned up.

The worst rain delay was at Police Field where Leg Trappers, chasing 87, overcame a poor start to beat Police Recreation Club by seven wickets on a very wet pitch that led umpires Lester Harnett and Leroy Wilson to reduce the match to 36 overs.

In the event Police were dismissed in the 34th over despite a bright start by openers John Pitcher (25) and Jason Wade (22), slow bowler James Swan claiming four for 25, Graham Strange three for five and Colin Scaife two for 22.

Skipper Jim Walters (two for 24) rocked Trappers as openers Gary Knight (four) and Chris Fleming (seven) and Jonathan Hughes (one) went cheaply but Damion Henderson (29 not out) and Strange (26 not out) eased their side home in the 20th over."

"We appreciated Police made a game of it - they could easily have said the pitch was too wet and not played," said Trappers' spokesman James Broadbent.

The match at drizzly Southampton Oval was also reduced to 36 overs a side by umpires Randy Butler and Ronald O'Hara but Village were dismissed for 149 with two balls remaining after slumping to 52 for five as skipper Derek Smith and Larry Allen picked up two wickets each.

Bell (39) and Caisey (34) did the bulk of the repair work - Bell also added 31 for the last wicket with his 11-year-old son Tosh, who made 11 not out - and then ripped Stars apart with the ball, Bell grabbing six for 16 and Caisey four for 29 as Stars tumbled to 51 all out.