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Trappers trounced as Forties stay top

Cricket League at the halfway point of the season after trouncing defending champions Leg Trappers by seven wickets at Nationals.

Second-placed Watford Sports Club crushed 10-man Devonshire Stars by nine wickets at the Royal Naval Field while Sunday's other match, a compelling affair at Lord's, produced almost 500 runs as West Indian Association beat St.

David's by three wickets in fading light.

Leg Trappers' modest 118 -- including 31 extras, 21 one of them wides -- proved totally inadequate as Gladwin Ingham struck an unbeaten half century to spur Forties to victory against a team who had hammered Watford by the same margin at the same venue the previous Sunday.

Leg Trappers, who lost the toss, were pinned down by tight bowling. Opening bowler David Jarrett (two for 12) made the initial breakthrough when he struck twice in his sixth over, removing Gary Knight (16) thanks to a well-judged running catch a mid-off by Gerald Simons and bowling Dave Thompson for four.

Damion Henderson pulled skipper Gordon Campbell's first ball for three and skipper Graham Strange signalled his arrival by on-driving Campbell for six in the same over.

But Campbell had his revenge when Henderson went at 43 as he mistimed a pull and at 71 Chris Fleming fell to a superb one-handed leaping catch at slip by leg-break bowler Hugh Hollis off Jim Walters (two for 16).

Hollis then struck the vital blow when he had leading batsman Strange caught behind with his second ball although there was a hint of controversy over the dismissal as Hollis' cap, which he had inadvertently left on, blew off as he prepared to bowl.

Strange, whose 37 included three sixes and just one single, sportingly walked but he might well have felt aggrieved that the umpire did not call dead ball over the distraction as the cap blew off.

Leg Trappers never recovered and Hollis (three for 13) snapped up two more wickets in his third over before Brian Holdipp, who finished with two for 39, returned to take two wickets in his 15th over to help polish off the innings in the final over.

Although Tim Bridges was bowled off his toe in David Hosier's opening over for four, Harold Minors and number three Ingham raised the 50 in only the 11th over before Minors played on to left-arm slow bowler James Swan for a breezy 29.

Campbell misjudged a ball from slow bowler Gary Proctor at 88 but Ingham, who survived a stinging return chance to Proctor when he was 48, and Braxton Stowe (13 not out) sealed victory with more than 11 overs to spare. Ingham's 53 included six boundaries.

St. David's, led by 73 from George Cannonier, 31 from his son Ankoma and 48 from George O'Brien, powered their way to 246 for six -- boosted by 39 extras -- from their allotted 42 overs but West Indian Association were equal to the task as they replied with 247 for seven on a firm pitch and super-fast outfield.

Two breaks for rain meant the match did not finish until 8.15 p.m. and many of the St. David's players were unhappy that the game was not halted earlier. But skipper Eddie Lamb -- rightly because there is nothing in league rules about the time games must end -- said: "Their batsmen were happy to carry on despite the light and I insisted on playing on.'' St. David's lost opener Lyndon Jackson to the first ball of the match but Cannonier, whose knock included nine fours and a six and O'Brien, who struck five fours and a six, collared the bowling, Chris Pitcher chipping in with 24.

Olwin Clarke claimed three for 61 and Jerry Callender two for 61.

"We decided to go for the runs from the start,'' said WIA skipper John McConnie -- and the bold approach paid off.

Openers Barry Richards (19) and Edwin Wickham added 41 before Andy Boyce (31) and McConnie, whose 55 included seven fours and a six, teamed up to put on 73 for the third wicket to maintain the momentum.

Ken Savoury (33) and Patrick Hamlett, with 39 not out, joined in the run spree as WIA claimed their third victory of the season with three overs to spare.

Loren Marshall took three for 45 and Henry O'Connor two for 37.

Devonshire Stars, who elected to bat first, were bundled out for 91 in the 26th over, Blake West snapping up three for 19, Trevor Corday three for 30 and David DeSilva two for 18.

Watford knocked off the runs in 15 overs as Terry Ward completed an unbeaten 50 by hitting the final delivery for six over the nearby gas station, as well as stroking nine fours. Trevor Corday made 21 in an opening stand of 32.