Bailey?s Bay and Warwick were relegated from the Premier Division yesterday ? though Bay are hopeful of survival despite appearing to squander any chance they had of staying up by not playing their final game against Western Stars at St. John?s Field.

With nine umpires overseas this weekend, the Bermuda Cricket Board said this week that they expected the clubs to make ?every effort? to play their matches despite the chronic shortage.

However, with no umpires assigned to their game, Bay and Stars decided to go home early ? and it was not clear last night whether the teams would be awarded a point each or no points at all for not obeying the BCB?s instructions.

Either way, Bay?s decision to abandon the match looks to have backfired horribly because of Flatts? surprise victory over third-placed St. David?s at Lords ? a result which gave them 12 points for the season and took them away from the danger zone.

Bay?s inactivity also benefited Somerset, whose thumping 57-run victory over Warwick sent them down as well.

An astonishing 109-run eight-wicket partnership between Englishman John Woolnough (74 not out) and David Gibbs (67 not out) helped Somerset amass an intimidating first innings score in a highly-competitive relegation decider at Southampton Oval yesterday.

At 166 for seven, Somerset looked in trouble, until they were rescued by the Woolnough-Gibbs show ? and took the field confident they were in the driving seat.

And so it proved, as Warwick were bundled out for only 218 ? Marcus Johnstone (three for 46), Gibbs (two for 27) and Reid Jones (two for 40) doing the damage.

Daniel Morgan top scored for Warwick with 67 batting with a broken finger, but his efforts were not enough to keep his side in the top-flight.

Flatts received a boost for their Eastern Counties Cup final in two weeks when they defeated their opponents and defending champions St. David?s by 104 runs at Lord?s.

Although the East Enders will be significantly stronger by the time that match-up takes place, victory still remained quite an incentive for Flatts for whom Rahji Edness top-scored with 83 with nine fours and five sixes. Phillip Burgess contributed also with a well-earned 43.

St. David?s skipper Sammy Robinson led their bowling attack with two for 18 off four overs while OJPitcher claimed one for 42 from ten overs.

Chris Foggo spearheaded St. David?s in their meek reply with 41 while skipper Robinson struck 23 and Pitcher 21.

Spinner Lloyd Fray was the best of the Flatts bowlers with three for 19 off 7.4 overs while Vernon Eve had one for 30 off 10 overs with two maidens.

Hector Watson was the lone umpire.

Cleveland, already promoted to top flight cricket with St. George?s, were decisively beaten in their final First Division league at Somerset CC.

The home side got solid batting support from Sheroy Fubler who struck 81 while Derek Musson led Cleveland bowlers with three for 56.

Cleveland then made a creditable reply but fell short with Dennis Musson undefeated on 46. Mike Corday was the pick of the Cuts? bowlers with four for 38 off eight overs.

Bottom club Somerset Bridge failed to finish the league season on a positive note when they were soundly beaten by six wickets at White Hill.

The chief players responsible for their demise were PHC stalwarts Cal Waldron, Neil Anglin and Sheron Hunt. Waldron took three for nine off five overs with one maiden, Anglin three for 20 off 10 overs with two maidens and Hunt three for 40 off ten overs.

Bridge skipper Adrian Burrows was their top bat with 23.

Gerald Simons steered PHC to their easy triumph with a brisk 43. Corvett Lambert took two for 18 in five overs with a maiden for Bridge.