final at Lord's has claimed both umpires were in "real danger'' when fans stormed the pitch during the clash between his club and Bailey's Bay.

President Mansfield Smith didn't endorse the stronger views expressed by Noel Gibbons of Bailey's Bay in yesterday's Gazette , but he did agree that officials George Francis and Lester Harnett were fortunate to come away unscathed after fans protested what they felt was an unfair dismissal.

"There was certainly danger out there when the fans reacted strongly to the decision by Francis to give our player run out after they thought the winning run had been scored,'' said Smith.

"It was fortunate that nothing serious happened and the game was able to be completed.

"It all happened so quickly and was so spontaneous. Francis took so long to put his finger up and the fans stormed onto the field to join their players in celebration. But when they found out that the winning run had not been scored and that the player had in fact been ruled out, some of the fans simply over-reacted.'' Smith conceded that while the culprits were supporters of his club, the majority were not members and consequently the club was in no position to take disciplinary action.

However, the president did side with Gibbons in his view that some type of security needed to be implemented at cricket matches, claiming that fans ran onto the field too frequently, often disrupting play.

"This has to be prevented. Somerset have bleachers and fences around their entire perimeter and a couple of other fields are virtually enclosed also. But the majority of the grounds are not and perhaps we need to have fencing enclosing all of them,'' said Smith.

"I'm really concerned about this problem we have with the spectators because it's becoming too difficult to control. We've had it in Cup Match for some time. Most of the time it's kids involved but grown-ups are part of the problem as well.'' Since dwindling attendance at matches makes it difficult for money to be taken out of gate returns for security, Smith reckoned that finding a solution that won't require significant funding would be tough. But he insisted it was a matter that required serious consideration.

Unlike Gibbons, who felt there was too much verbal abuse during local games, Smith believed there was, in fact, considerably less with Bermuda Cricket Board of Control's disciplinary committee now taking quick action whenever players are reported.

"The abuse isn't that serious nowadays. What happened on Sunday was an isolated incident. My other concern about Sunday's game was the poor light that existed when St. George's batted, but that was a judgement call by the umpires,'' added Smith.