St. George's 150 Inspired by Albert Steede's third century of the season, Western Stars surged to the top of the Premier Overs Division with this comfortable 98-run victory over St. George's at St. John's Field yesterday.

Displacing the East Enders at the top, Stars will now be favoured to retain their Overs crown.

Thanks to Steede's superb effort, they reached a formidable score against a side whose attack seldom caused either Steede or fellow opener Gregory Sampson (31) any problems.

The pair stayed together in a solid stand of 92, demoralising the pace attack of Herbie Bascome, Gregg Foggo and Kenny Phillips.

And after that stand, skipper Arnold Manders followed up with a fierce 45 while Andre Manders chipped in with 22.

Stars enjoyed a second significant partnership when Steede and his skipper added 87 for the third wicket, after Sampson and Treadwell Gibbons (1) had been dismissed with the score on 92 and 99 respectively.

Steede's sterling knock lasted 186 minutes as he faced a total of 159 balls, striking eight fours and two sixes. When he departed for 101, caught behind by wicketkeeper Lewis Foggo off Herbie Bascome, his side were comfortably placed at 224 for four.

Skipper Manders was also severe on the attack during his shorter stay at the wicket, stroking four fours and three sixes.

Bascome was the best bowler for St. George's with three for 42 off 10 overs, including a maiden.

St. George's batting was in sharp contrast to that of their hosts with few batsmen looking capable of staying at the wicket.

And their task was made more difficult by the accurate bowling of spinners Andre Manders, Hasan Durham and Arnold Manders and the pace of Gary Brangman.

The seldom used Andre Manders was the most successful with four for 37 off 10 overs while Durham had two for 24 off 7.2 overs and Arnold one for 20 off six overs. Brangman took two for 26 off seven overs.

St. George's got off to a decent start with Eugene Foggo (31) and Jason Lewis (8) putting on 22 for the opening stand and the 50 came up with two wickets down.

But once skipper Clay Smith was run out for 18 and Dean Minors dismissed for eight with the score on 94 for four, the writing was on the wall.

Mark Ray added 39, Foggo 13 and Kenny Phillips 14, but the inevitable defeat came after 40.2 overs.

Southampton 166 Police 168-4 Stevie Lightbourne struck 56 and skipper Dennis Archer hammered 40 to lead Police to a six-wicket victory over last placed Southampton Rangers at Southampton Oval yesterday.

Police also got solid bowling support from pacemen Adrian King, playing his first league game this season, and Richard Austin who snatched four wickets apiece.

King, a former St. George's Cup Match bowler, finished with four for 12 off 9.5 overs, including four maidens, while Austin took four for 36 off 10 overs and one maiden.

Skipper Olin Jones was the top Southampton batsman with 47 while opener Keith Wainwright scored 22 and Gary Crofton 17.

Police required just 35.3 overs to reach their winning target with Lightbourne and Archer setting a torrid pace in the chase for runs.

Archer got them off to a robust start when he struck a whirlwind 40 off just 23 balls, hitting nine fours. Lightbourne hit seven fours and two sixes. Also among the runs were Ferdinand Thorne with 30, opener Dwayne Leverock with 23 and Peter Philpott with 10.

Photos by David Skinner MASTER BLASTER -- Albert Steede cuts a ball to the boundary en route to his third century of the season, helping Western Stars to a comfortable victory over St.George's at St.John's Field yesterday.

TAKE THAT! -- Opener Gregory Sampson steers a ball between the slips during his innings of 31 for Western Stars yesterday. Sampson and Albert Steede compiled an opening stand of 92.