West Indian Association and Sandys Sports Club surged clear of their two remaining rivals with contrasting victories on Sunday.

Defending champions Sandys were made to struggle to overhaul Forties' modest 127 at the Royal Naval Field but WIA, who lead the table by one and a half points, scored an emphatic seven-wicket victory over Pembroke United at the Police Field after being set 201 to win.

All four teams observed a minute's silence before play started in memory of Lesbourne (Swangie) Lawrence, a 49-year-old WIA player who died last week.

Pembroke United, whose title challenge has faded with three successive defeats, chalked up 200 for seven in their allotted 42 overs after being sent in, thanks largely to a fine innings of 86 by Michael Campbell which contained 10 fours.

Skipper Ian Coke gave Campbell, who batted at number three, good support with five fours in a knock of 36 while Arthur Dublin contributed an unbeaten 24 and Chris Cox made 21. Medium pacer Callender was the pick of the WIA attack, claiming five for 67 in 16 overs while slow bowler Barry Walkes took two for 61 from 15 overs.

Daniel Reece, who hit six boundaries in his 61, and Roy Trotman (17) gave WIA a good start with a stand of 43. Chris Graham-Ward (12) went at 74 and Reece fell at 149.

But another belligerent knock by Andy Boyce -- he struck three sixes and eight fours in an unbeaten 75 -- and an unbeaten 24 by John McConnie, making his first appearance of the season, saw WIA home with 28 balls to spare.

Forties, seeking to avenge an earlier league defeat, made a disastrous start after being sent in, losing Mark Melvin who nicked Terence Corday's first ball to his father Terry behind the stumps. Melvin also fell first ball to Corday in a League Cup match last month.

Skipper Gordon Campbell, back from holiday, was run out in the second over and in the sixth Forties slumped to eight for three when Sanjika Samaranayake was caught in the covers.

Andrew Paynter fell with the total 25 but Ken McGee and Rohaan Simons added some stability to the innings by adding 41 before Simons was caught behind for 25. Gladwin (Chief) Ingham was yorked first ball by Corday, who finished with the impressive figures of four for 21 from 12 overs, leaving Forties 67 for six.

McGee, who hit a six and four fours, and Gerald Simons looked set to put together a useful partnership until McGee was run out for 30 in a mix-up.

Simons followed for 23 when he hammered a full toss straight at Terry Corday.

Blake West, with two for seven, wrapped up the tail. Medium pacer Ingham bowled unchanged for 17 overs, being rewarded with four for 39 as Sandys, with 47 overs at their disposal, slipped from 32 without loss to 54 for four, sending back Terry Corday -- well caught at cover by Melvin -- Ray DeSilva, Terry Ward and David DeSilva.

Ward, who has been in prolific form, was caught at square leg for eight -- his second failure against Forties having made only 16 in the first league match and missing the League Cup game, which Forties won, because of a trip to Venezuela.

But a brave knock of 42, containing seven fours, by Michael Corday, who shrugged off a painful bout of tennis elbow in his left arm, and an innings of 18 by his nephew Terence Corday in a stand of 54 carried Sandys to the brink of victory.