of 102 runs at Somerset Cricket Club on Sunday afternoon, Willow Cuts were poised for a second run at the top of the Open League Championship tables.

But they did not count on a spirited fightback and complacency with the bat could cost them dearly with a tough schedule remaining in the month ahead.

Leaders Western Stars were held to a draw at home by champions Devonshire Rec.

and, after hearing of Willow Cuts' fielding effort, expected to be second if only by a few points. But instead they lead the championship by 11 and have the inside track to a first-ever league title.

Cuts, whose rise toward the top was spirited by an upset of Devonshire at the same Somerset CC ground, face Police on Sunday in a match that could be critical if they want to remain second as Bailey's Bay are due to tackle lowly Social Club.

Are they prepared to continue the title chase in the wake of the most recent setback? Skipper Dexter Basden thinks so.

"That blow should really make us put our heads together the rest of the way,'' he said. "It is the mental things that we really have to think about this week in training. I haven't felt this bad about a game for a long time.'' Basden admitted that Cuts' relaxed batting approach and tidy bowling from Jason Lewis and Gary Knight proved their undoing.

"We wanted to bat first but lost the toss,'' he said. "We got them out for 102, which I thought was good because we were a bit rusty in the field after the break. Our downfall was that we didn't look at the runs they scored seriously.

"It seems like every time we have to score 80 to 100 runs we have difficulty, as if we need to score 300.'' And that was a problem the skipper said started from himself. "I had 10 runs from the first over from Chris Wright and then made eight runs the next,'' he said. "I was seeing the ball and felt good but I got out from being too aggressive. Then, my brother Richard came in and he didn't apply himself and only faced two balls. When we were out so early that put pressure on the rest of the team.

"I have to give credit to Jason though because he bowled well and Gary Knight's medium-pacers were always right on the mark. At first I didn't think we would lose too many wickets chasing those runs, Nationals had guys on the field I had never seen playing before.'' And that is why Cuts are looking over their shoulders at Bailey's Bay with four matches left against Police (away), St. David's (home), Somerset (away) and Southampton (away).

"This is the best position Cuts have been in at this stage of the season,'' Basden added. "So while this was a blow we have to keep fighting to finish in the top four for the Camel Cup if we can't win the league.'' On current form, Bay are expected to take over as the leading challengers to Stars after this weekend, then they face the make-or-break stage of their campaign with matches against Devonshire Rec., Cleveland and Hamilton Parish, all to be played at Sea Breeze Oval.

Devonshire may have seen their hopes of a repeat disappear on Sunday but they have a realistic opportunity of qualifying for the Camel Cup to defend the title they have won the past two seasons.

The Bermuda Cricket Board of Control has still to decide what points will be allocated for the match against St. David's when the Eastern Counties champs failed to prepare a wicket, plus Devonshire also have an outstanding match against Police. The rest of their schedule reads Flatts (home), Bay (away), St. George's (home) and Somerset Bridge (away).

Stars, who have won every other major title besides the league and Camel Cup, complete their season with matches against Cleveland (away), Hamilton Parish (home), Nationals (away) and St. David's (home). Neither of those teams have beaten Stars in the past five seasons.

DEXTER BASDEN -- `Too aggressive'.