It was a weekend of mixed fortunes for Willow Cuts as the prolonged cricket season finally ended.

In one breath they secured a berth in next season's Premier League - with maximum points in their long-awaited make-up match against Cleveland on Saturday - but then faltered badly to lose yesterday's Premier Knockout final to St. David's.

However, the Houdini-like escape from relegation from the top flight - to which they at the same time condemned Somerset - was enough to soften the disappointment of yesterday's six-wicket defeat.

“We have done well overall given how we started this season. In the end we were very successful but in the beginning it was very disappointing with an 0-7 start.

“To get where we are now shows that we can do it when we put our heads down. We need some more commitment from the guys. I think one or two are still on the selfish side but we need to come together as a unit and work like we have been working since the Western Counties competition,” said Cuts skipper Richard Basden, warning his team-mates they could not afford such an abysmal start if they wanted to “stay in the big league” next year.

In Saturday's do-or-die season-ender, Cuts dismissed Cleveland for a shocking 64 runs in 28 overs and then romped to 66 for three wickets in just 14.1 overs at Southampton Oval.

Three brilliant run-outs by the diminutive Reggie Tucker Jr - patrolling extra cover - plus early inroads by Basden, who took three for 16 from ten overs, crippled Cleveland. Captain Carlton Smith top-scored for the losers with 23, sharing in 12 and 14-run partnerships for the eighth and ninth wickets respectively.

Tucker, with 17 not out, completed a good all-round performance as he stroked the winning runs off Johnny Richardson who took two for six off 2.1 overs.

The 16 points which Cuts garnered for the convincing victory boosted them from second-last in the league standings to 107 points, thereby sending Somerset - on 104 points - down the drain with bottom-placed PHC on 78.

Interestingly, the demise of Somerset's cricketers means football and cricket teams from PHC and Somerset have suffered the indignity of relegation in the same year.

Meanwhile, in yesterday's Premier Knockout final at Somerset Cricket Club, Cuts were skittled out for 226 in 42.5 overs after cruising at 170 for three wickets. Dwight Basden and Reggie Tucker Jr scored 58 (nine fours, three sixes) and 49 (six fours, one six) respectively while Lionel Cann and St. David's captain Clay Smith took three for 30 and two for 42 off their respective nine overs.

In a match reduced to 45-overs-a-side to facilitate St. David's players meeting the Causeway curfew, the East Enders clinched victory in exactly the same number of overs that Cuts batted.

St. David's hero O.J. Pitcher - 81 not out (11 fours, one six) - smacked the winning boundary to deep mid-wicket off Trevor Corday as Smith's team finished on 227 for four in 42.5 overs.

Smith and opener Chris Foggo contributed 31 not out and 39 to the cause.

“I feel relieved because my players had worked tremendously hard all season but until today we hadn't won anything. This is a great finale for my youngsters.

“We have a very young and promising team and in years to come I'm sure there will be a lot more silverware for us,” declared a jubilant Smith, admitting he expected a larger target given Cuts' start.

Smith saluted the opening stand of 64 between Foggo and Fiqre Crockwell and Pitcher's unbeaten innings, noting that the latter played through “the agony of fractured ribs”, an injury suffered after being ‘peppered' by a short ball from West Indies fast bowler Mervyn Dillon three weeks ago.

“I wasn't going to play but a couple guys didn't show up so I came to help them out and it worked out for the best. We were a little behind the run rate so I had to pick up the scoring rate but also play sensible and not be rash,” said 20-year-old Pitcher, pleased with his effort.

Basden expressed disappointment with the manner in which his team wilted after a great start but noted there was hope for the future.

“We knew it was a good batting track so 226 was ‘gettable' and we were a bit relaxed with our bowling. It was untidy and we gave away too many extras. It cost us though we took them down to the wire.

“Now we look forward to next season and taking things more seriously. We want to start looking good from early and not leave things until late like we usually do.”