League with a seven-wicket thrashing.

But the day belonged to George Cannonier and Lyndon Jackson who swept St.

David's to a 10-wicket victory over North Village with sparkling half centuries in an opening stand of 160.

The new league leaders are Forties, now the only unbeaten team, who crushed 10-man Devonshire Stars by eight wickets while Jamaican Association boosted their own title hopes by enjoying a similar success against West Indian Association in Sunday's other fixture.

Only 10 points separate the top four sides, but Jamaican Association, who are fourth, have completed their first-half fixtures.

Graham Strange-inspired defending champions Leg Trappers returned to top form after two successive defeats -- one of which was overturned on appeal against St. David's for using an ineligible player -- by sending Watford packing after winning the toss and asking them to bat first at Nationals where rain held up play for around 45 minutes early on.

Although David DeSilva made 33 and Terry Ward 19, the combination of the medium pace of Strange and slow left-arm spin of James Swan undermined the west-enders' innings as they crumbled to 95 all out in the 34th over, leaving number five batsman Clyde Best stranded on 11 not out.

Strange and Swan, who both missed the previous week's five-wicket defeat at the hands of Jamaican Association at the same venue, claimed four for 17 and four for 16 respectively.

Skipper James Broadbent's decision to reshuffle the top of the order backfired as he and Swan were dismissed with only two runs on the board but a third-wicket stand of 62 between Chris Fleming (23) and ever-reliable Strange, who hit six fours and a six in an unbeaten 52, laid the foundation for victory which was sealed in the 30th over.

"We bowled and fielded really well, taking all the catches that came our way,'' said Broadbent.

Rain forced a 70-minute delay at Shelly Bay where Devonshire Stars, who won the toss, struggled to 71 all out in 33.2 overs after the captains had agreed to reduce the game to 35 overs a side.

Stars recovered from five for three the previous week to post a challenging 167 against West Indian Association but there was no escape this time as chief run-getter Worrell Bean miscued a drive to cover off opening bowler David Jarrett (three for 18 from nine overs) and was out for a duck.

Earlier Jim Walters (two for 17) removed both openers after the rain break while Brian Holdipp, who arrived late and came on as second change, chipped in with three for 14.

Stars would have been in deeper trouble if Forties had not twice dropped skipper Derek Smith -- on one and two -- and Lamar Caines before he scored, both batsmen going on to make 17 apiece.

Although Hugh Hollis (eight) mistimed a pull against Bean and skipper Gordon Campbell was run out for 14 with the total 34, Gladwin Ingham (15 not out) and Braxton Stowe (16 not out) easily guided Forties home in the 20th over.

Ten-man North Village's 156 looked a useful total at rain-free Garrison Field, but they had reckoned without Jackson and Cannonier who teamed up to steer their side home in the 32nd over.

Cannonier struck seven fours and a six in his 74 while Jackson's 65 included five boundaries as the pair made light of Village's four-pronged pace attack of Neil Anglin, Derek Bell, Chris Caisey and Mike Young.

Earlier, Mike Levon and opener Mike Payne (26) enjoyed a century stand, adding 107 for the third wicket after two wickets went down with only two runs on the board. Levon's impressive knock of 84 included nine fours and two sixes but, hurt by two run-outs, including David Scraders for 16, Village lost their last seven wickets for 47 runs. Randy Swan and Jamie Roberts were the pick of the attack with two wickets each.

"Other teams have to watch out now,'' said jubilant St. David's player George O'Brien while Village spokesman Wendell Lindsay admitted: "We got hammered.'' Rain also played no part at the Royal Naval Field where former skipper Ian Coke masterminded Jamaican Association's emphatic victory with an unbeaten 61 containing six fours and three sixes after WIA had been bundled out for 119 in the 23rd over. Ralston Wright made 29 as the Jamaicans cruised to 123 for two in just 24 overs.

Opener Patrick Hamlett made 37 and number seven Olwin Clarke top-scored with 42 for WIA but three wickets each for Michael Campbell and Junior Lindo and two from fellow pacer bowler Simroy Crosdale wrecked the innings on a ground where Watford have scored more than 200 in each of their four home matches.

"We were completely outplayed,'' said WIA skipper John McConnie. "I won the toss and would have sent them in but had to bat because I didn't have a full team at the start.''