Social Club, the chasing pack will all have to work a little harder to keep up with the Premier League leaders tomorrow.

Bay, last season's Overs champions, have again established themselves as the team to beat after winning their first six games of the season quite convincingly.

Against winless Social Club they should rack up win number seven at Sea Breeze Oval while second and third-placed Western Stars and Southampton Rangers will have their work cut out to prevent Bay from extending their lead.

In the first big league match since Bay hosted St. David's on the opening day of the season, Stars will meet unbeaten St. George's at St. John's Field, a match that neither can afford to lose.

And while St. George's beat Stars in the Camel Cup semi-final recently, Stars will go into this match as slight favourites.

Next to Charlie Marshall, opener Albert Steede has been the most in-form batsman this season and success for St. George's will depend on how quickly, and cheaply, they remove the former Bermuda captain.

However, Stars will point out that there's more to their team than just Steede, with the likes of Treadwell Gibbons, Jermaine Postlethwaite, Arnold and Andre Manders and Ricky Brangman all capable of big scores.

Southampton who have quietly risen to third in the standings with five victories, should be favoured over mid-table Devonshire Rec. at Southampton Oval, while Willow Cuts, fourth, entertain Police at Somerset.

Police, after their two losses last weekend, will gladly welcome back Ferdinand Thorne and Stevie Lightbourne as they seek a win over Willow Cuts to build their confidence.

Thorne, Lightbourne and Richard Austin were all abroad for the World Cup last weekend as Police were dismissed for under 100 in both their Central Counties and league matches.

In other action tomorrow, St. David's entertain Warwick at Lord's, Flatts take on PHC at Devonshire Rec. and Somerset Bridge host Somerset in a west end derby.

The first Cup Match trials of the season are scheduled for today, with St.

George's taking on St. David's for the Turkey Barnes Trophy at Wellington Oval while Somerset play an inter-club match.

Western Stars skipper Arnold Manders, whose team have been affected by the umpire shortage this season, admitted he was upset that only one official turned up for last weekend's Central Counties Cup final.

Only Dennis Raynor showed for the clash at Police Field and Manders believes that doesn't augur well for the future.

"I know that there is an umpire shortage in the Island and I don't want to criticise them, but it was a shame that on a day when there was no other games on they could not get another umpire for an important game like that,'' said the skipper.

Manders was also concerned that on the following day during Stars' league match against Devonshire Rec., neither of the two assigned umpires turned up.

"I had to take my brother Andre out of the team so that he could umpire the game,'' said Manders.

Andre is an official member of the Bermuda Cricket Umpires Association but on Sunday had hoped to play for Stars.

Manders said it was a shame that clubs who paid the umpiring fees were being penalised.

At the start of the season close to $8,000 remained outstanding in umpires' fees and the BCUA were considering taking steps to avoid sending their members to delinquent clubs.

"We have been affected by the shortage of umpires all season, starting from our very first game,'' said Manders.

The BCUA were scheduled to meet this week to discuss last weekend's no-shows, and secretary Steven Douglas expressed his concern after those officials who had been assigned matches failed to show.