Coach Wendell Smith accepts St. David’s are losing their grip on the Premier Division title they won so convincingly last season.The champions are third in the standings, 12 points behind leaders Willow Cuts and 11 behind second-placed Bailey’s Bay, both still unbeaten. Smith admits results will have to go their way if St. David’s are to retain the title he led them to in his first season as coach last year.“We’ve got Willow Cuts, Rangers, Bailey’s Bay and Devonshire Rec left and we’ve lost two already, so they (Cuts and Bay) will have to lose two of their four,” said Smith whose team host Willow Cuts on Sunday.Another defeat would virtually end their title aspirations. Despite high expectations this season, St. David’s, like most clubs, have had their problems fielding a full strength team.“We played a 14-year-old and a ten-year-old the other day,” Smith revealed. “We were playing Willow Cuts and were 100 for three chasing 185 and I told my established players not to leave it for people behind you. That’s the only game we lost that we definitely should have won. We lost by 13 runs.“At 105 for three Willow Cuts had throw in the towel and all we needed was a couple of guys to stick around for another 20 minutes. One of the factors is we are missing three key batsmen. Lionel Cann has left to go to Warwick to coach and you can’t replace a Lionel Cann. He is a unique batsman as far as his aggression and he can swing a match and did that for us last year.Added Smith: “We are also missing OJ Pitcher (abroad in school), who, in my estimation, is one of the top five batsmen on the Island. Technically he is a very sound batsmen and reminds me of Noel Gibbons a lot as he doesn’t throw his wicket away. He’s a wonderful stabiliser.“And we are also missing Landro Minors who passed away from a road accident. He was a very steady batsman. They were the core of our batting at four, five and six. Add to that Shea Pitcher who is our most promising young player who had work commitments and then suffered a collapsed lung and had surgery this week overseas.”Another young player missing from St. David’s this season is CJ Outerbridge who was involved in a pedal bike accident during the annual Good Friday race from St. David’s Lighthouse. “He’s a left-arm medium pacer, a real promising player and one of our future County and Cup Match players,” said Smith of the teenager.Chris Foggo and Rudell Pitcher returned to the club this season along with Clay Smith, but the latter will be missing as he has relocated to England to be with his family.“He played about four matches but mentally I could see he wasn’t in it,” said his brother. “He e-mailed me and apologised, saying ’I’m sorry I wasn’t able to give you the performances you would have expected out of me’. His mind was on England and being with his family.“We also picked up Shannon Raynor but he’s got a knee injury and hasn’t played a single match. Rudell is the only one we’ve picked up who has played every match but Chris has been a revelation behind the stumps and that was something we needed.”July will be a critical month for St. David’s as they also prepare for their return to the Eastern Counties after a two-year absence. Having already lost to Bailey’s Bay in the Belco Cup final and then again in the league, the stage is being set for an eagerly anticipated clash between the two Counties giants in the second round on August 18. The challengers are hoping to have OJ Pitcher back in time for the match.Willow Cuts and Bailey’s Bay will look to continue their push for the league title, possibly in a two-team race after this weekend.St. David’s know the importance of a home win over Cuts, who presently hold down top spot by a point over Bailey’s Bay who entertain Eastern Counties rivals Cleveland who are struggling near the foot of the table. Last-placed Devonshire Rec welcome Southampton Rangers to the Rec in the other match.n Cuts open the defence of their Western Counties title tomorrow when they meet Somerset Bridge at Southampton Oval.The first Cup Match trial of the season will also take place tomorrow at St. David’s where the home team meet a St. George’s select for the Turkey Barnes Trophy.Brothers McLaren and Jason Lowe of Western Stars could be included for St. David’s while St. George’s will likely be led by Rodney Trott in the absence of captain Oronde Bascome who is recovering from recent surgery.