Stalwarts Watford Sports Club, weakened by a shortage of players and injury, pulled out of the Commercial Cricket League this week only two weeks into the new season, leaving eight clubs to battle for honours.

Alarm bells began ringing after Watford, one of the league's most successful clubs ever, fielded only nine players in their opening fixture on May 5 against long-time rivals Forties, going down by eight wickets after being bundled out for a paltry 52.

"We're dead," admitted skipper Terry Corday yesterday.

Their departure from the league was confirmed after Watford - known as Sandys Sports Club up until the 1997 season - could field only seven players for last Sunday's scheduled fixture against Devonshire Stars at Garrison Field and defaulted the game.

"It's not going to work," added Corday whose team's successes over the past 20 years have included a number of league titles and winning the prestigious knockout tournament four times. They completed the league-knockout double in 1997.

"It's no good going out week after week with only seven or eight players so the best thing is to pull out now."

He did not rule out a return, saying: "If the guys are serious about continuing we'll reapply to join the league next season."

The two-game record of Watford, whose problems were compounded by the absence of leading batsman Terry Ward due to an Achilles heel injury, has been deleted, forcing league secretary Dave Carruthers to draw up a new schedule.

"It's disappointing it's come to this after all these years," Carruthers said of Watford's exit, "but we've got to move on."

Meanwhile, Leg Trappers, who began the season by beating Jamaican Assocation by 58 runs, opened up a two-point lead after a "winning" draw against Forties at Shelly Bay while North Village moved into second spot by securing a four-wicket victory over newcomers Police Recreation Club thanks to a five-wicket haul by football star Kentoine Jennings.

Nine-man St. David's, the defending champions, were rescued by a sparkling century from Allen Richardson and then denied maximum points by last season's runners-up Jamaican Association who held on for a draw in a high-scoring match at Lord's.

Forties appeared headed for a comprehensive defeat when they slumped to 77 for eight from 26 overs but were rescued by an unbroken ninth-wicket stand of 46 between Gerald Simons, Jr. and Oscar Andrade who blocked out the closing overs.

No. 8 Simons, who is expected to join PHC, hit a fine unbeaten 40 while Braxton Stowe made 25 as Forties closed on 123 for eight. The bowling honours were shared by Colin Scaife, David Hosier, Jason Roberts and Graham Strange who took two wickets apiece.

Earlier, Leg Trappers reached 189 for seven after being sent in, Chris Fleming and Justin Freisenbruch (33) providing the backbone of the innings by adding 74 for the fifth wicket. Fleming finished unbeaten on 71 while Strange chipped in with 25 before he was run out ambling back to the crease after wrongly believing a drive had gone for four.

Craig Cannonier was the pick of the Forties attack with three for 47 from 12 overs while Andrade took two for 30.

A fifth-wicket stand of 145 between Richardson and Ernest McCallan, whose 48 included six fours, rescued St. David's from a precarious 45 for four. Richardson's 129, which contained 14 fours and a six, spurred the east enders to an ultimately imposing 262 for six.

Glenroy Brown took three for 60 from 11 overs and then topscored with 39 as the Jamaicans, failing to capitalise on their numerical advantage, closed on 209 for seven, other useful contributions coming from Chris Daley (34) and Kevin Abrahams (29). Ken O'Connor took three for 23 from seven overs for St. David's.

Police Recreation Club's return to the league fold after two earlier stints ended in defeat at Police Field but skipper Jim Walters was far from disheartened. "We need some practice but are confident we can do well," he said.

Police appeared well set at 80 for two but collapsed to 107 all out as Jennings, helped by Derek Bell's two for 27, snapped up five for 24 from seven overs. Englishman Darren Rathband topscored with 42 before unluckily being dismissed for 42. He was struck a painful blow on the foot and was run out as he hobbled around outside his crease. Barbadian Eric Thornton made 22.

Opener Robin Swan engineered Village's victory inside 26 overs with nine boundaries in his unbeaten 58 as Londoner Raj Goonewardene, a right-arm medium pacer, opened his Police account with three for 34 from nine overs.