Bailey’s Bay will be desperate to bounce back from last weekend’s first loss against St David’s and gain revenge on a team that had their number last season.

Southampton Rangers beat Bay four times last term, including a low-scoring match at Southampton Oval despite posting just 89 in a match reduced to 41 overs.

However, the balance has quickly shifted with the two Eastern Counties clubs battling it out to replace Rangers as champions of the Logic Premier Division.

St David’s are in the driver’s seat, unbeaten after five matches, and now lead Bay by 16 points at the top of the table. However, with two more meetings to come between the teams, Bay know they are still very much in the title race.

“Hats off to St David’s, they got the monkey off their back after we beat them twice, so this is a victory for them and now we have two more league games to go,” said Irving Romaine, the Bay coach, who watched his team fall short in their run chase after being set a modest 152 to win at Lord’s last weekend.

“The excitement from the fans was like winning the Eastern Counties.”

The defeat halted Bay’s winning streak at nine games, leaving St David’s as the only unbeaten team in the Premier Division.

“There is disappointment, yes, because we didn’t win,” Romaine said. “It stopped us from having an undefeated season, but that’s pressure off our backs, too, because every game we were counting. Now we can settle down and play better cricket.

“Respect to St David’s, we couldn’t get their spinners away and the pressure built. With the new format and St David’s and Bay being the top two teams so far, you have to win two of the three [meetings].

“But out of respect to the other teams, if one of us lose again then it creates another scenario.

“The last game of the season between us and St David’s could be the do-all match and hopefully it turns out that way, but you never know.”

Bay beat Rangers in their opening league match and will go to Southampton Oval confident they can bounce back from their loss last weekend.

St David’s managed to clinch the victory without all-rounder Justin Pitcher and opening batsman Shea Pitcher. Bowler George O’Brien is serving the last match of a six-game ban imposed last season.

St David’s meet another Eastern Counties side, Cleveland County, at Wellington Oval on Sunday looking to strengthen their grip on top spot. Cleveland are growing in confidence after winning their last two matches against Willow Cuts and Western Stars.

In the other match bottom team Willow Cuts host Western Stars at Somerset Cricket Club. Cuts are still without a win while Stars are on a three-game losing run.

Stars are also in action on Saturday when they meet Devonshire Recreation Club in the final of the Central Counties at Devonshire Rec.

The First Division promotion race got tighter last weekend when Devonshire Recreation Club, the previous leaders, crashed to defeat against Flatts after being set 152 for victory. Flatts won comfortably, dismissing Rec for just 88 in 20.3 overs.

The top four teams will face each other this weekend with Rec taking on new leaders St George’s while Flatts, third, meet fourth-place Somerset at St David’s. PHC take on neighbours Warwick Workmen’s Club at PHC Field in the other match. Warwick will also play Somerset in a make-up league match on Saturday at Somerset Cricket Club.

• Temiko Wilson of Western Stars and Detroy Smith of St George’s are the Logic Players of the Week after strong performances last weekend.

Wilson scored 102 not out in a losing cause against Cleveland, while Smith claimed five wickets for 22 runs as St George’s beat PHC by seven wickets.