race for the Commercial Cricket League title.

Despite being held at home by Forties, Watford's seven points from a "winning'' draw saw them leap-frog over West Indian Association who crashed to a seven-wicket defeat at the hands of defending champions Hemisphere Leg Trappers.

The North Village-Jamaican Association match ended in controversy when Village walked off at 8.10 p.m., complaining the light was too bad to continue. At the time the Jamaicans needed 18 to win from six overs with four wickets in hand.

Both clubs get five points.

Jamaican Association officials said yesterday the club planned to fire off a protest to the league over Village's "childish'' behaviour.

In Sunday's other match Devonshire Stars avenged a one-run defeat in their previous meeting by edging St. David's by two wickets.

Leg Trappers, who lost to WIA by two wickets earlier in the season at Nationals, turned the tables at Shelly Bay in convincing fashion. After restricting the former leaders to 103 for nine, Leg Trappers romped home with more than 10 overs to spare to move up to fourth place, three points behind Forties.

Apart from Leg Trappers and Forties, who meet in a make-up match on August 22, the six other clubs have two matches left, but the outcome of the title is unlikely to be settled until the final round of games on August 29.

WIA, having been sent in, never recovered after skipper John McConnie, who made 64 in the earlier match, was yorked by David Hosier (one for nine) for two.

Wickets continued to tumble as medium pacer Graham Strange snapped up four for 15 from eight overs and left-arm slow bowler James Swan also put the brakes on the scoring at the other end, claiming two for 23.

Opener Junior Watts top scored with 30 before being run out while Jerry Callender made 20 and Stan Francis 19 not out.

"We really stifled their batting,'' said Leg Trappers spokesman James Broadbent.

Although Leg Trappers slipped to 38 for three, with Callender finishing with two for 31, an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 66 between opener Damion Henderson and Strange, who shared a club record unbroken third-wicket stand of 152 in the earlier defeat, sealed an emphatic victory.

Henderson's unbeaten 51 contained four boundaries while Strange made 18 not out.

Despite an uncertain start, ever-reliable left-hander Terry Ward masterminded Watford's total of 197 with 10 fours and a six in a solid innings of 80 after the west enders had been sent in at the Royal Naval Field.

When opener Ward was eighth out at 155 -- well caught by wicketkeeper Harold Minors after the ball had bounced out of the hands of Hugh Hollis at slip -- George Rock chipped in with 20 at number 10. A total of 34 extras, including 25 wides, helped push the total towards the 200 mark.

Opening bowler Brian Holdipp and leg-break bowler Hollis picked up three wickets apiece while Craig Cannonier chipped in with two for 32 for Forties.

Watford dropped a hatful of catches -- skipper Gordon Campbell alone was missed four times in making 19 -- and, heartened by their opponents' profligacy, Forties accelerated after a cautious start to reach 175 for five at the close.

A third-wicket stand of 71 between Gladwin Ingham, who struck eight fours in a splendid knock of 55 before he was run out, and Hollis lifted Forties from 57 for two but when Hollis played on for 32 and Ingham was fifth out 18 runs later, their outside hopes of victory disappeared.

Cannonier, who failed to respond to a call from Ingham for a sharp single, hit two sixes in the final over to finish on 20 not out. Opening bowler Blake West, who suffered most from the dropped catches, persevered to take two for 35 from 12 overs.

Alex Virgil struck nine fours in his 50 as North Village ran up 217 for seven on a benign Southampton Oval pitch. Other useful contributions came from Mike Levon and David Scraders, who each made 29, Neil Robinson (24 not out), skipper Dion Ball (23) and Mike Young (20). Pick of the Jamaican attack was Michael Campbell who took three for 63 from 14 overs.

Skipper Ian Coke led a spirited Jamaican reply with nine fours and a six in his 60 and he was well supported by Sehwell Millwood (34), Junior Lindo (27 not out) and Campbell (23). Young picked up four for 44 from 11 overs.

The Village walk-off brought an angry reponse from Jamaican spokesman Glenmore Barrett who said: "The light was not the best but we had the game in the bag.

It was childish on those guys' part.'' Village spokesman Wendell Lindsay said: "It was getting dangerous out there.

The fielders couldn't see the ball.'' Lindsay admitted his players had earlier become upset when appeals were turned down.

Opener Lyndon Jackson played a lone role with six fours in his 51 as St.

David's were bundled out for 88 in 20 overs at Garrison Field. Left-arm medium pacer Worrell Bean bagged four for 32 -- including the key wicket of George Cannonier for six with a shooter -- while Andre Smith took three for 11.

An unbeaten 20 by number three Franklyn Simons and 13 not out from skipper Derek Smith helped Devonshire Stars complete a narrow victory in the 38th over. Eddie Lamb was rewarded for his 16.2 overs with three for 31.