St. David's 133 Dale Fox flourished on his debut for reigning Premier Division champions Western Stars yesterday, haunting his former club with a fiery performance of fast bowling at St. John's Field.

The lanky Fox erupted for six wickets, including a four-wicket burst in his second spell that served to end late resistance by the Islanders and send them tumbling to a 99-run defeat.

While the speedster struggled for line at times from the northern end where he claimed two scalps, he was always a threat for sheer pace, something St.

David's never came to grips with.

Fox though was deadly accurate when bowling from the southern end where four overs reaped as many wickets at a cost of three runs.

Final figures for the paceman read 13 overs, two maidens, 27 runs, six wickets.

Still, it was fellow pacer Allan Brangman who started the visitors off on a downward spiral, claiming two early wickets without a run on the board.

Edward Lambe was first to go, edging Brangman's first delivery low to Albert Steede at gully, while number three Lionel Cann embarked on a foolish charge on the fourth, skying out to Treadwell Gibbons at long off.

A third wicket stand of 34 between Shea Pitcher (15) and Philip Pitcher (14) stabilised matters somewhat before Fox struck, first forcing Shea to the sideline with a smashed right thumb courtesy of a rising delivery.

Two runs later he had Philip removed, the burly batsman fishing once too many times outside the off stump, top edging to Gregory Sampson who took a difficult catch over his right shoulder.

Shea came back with Philip's departure, but his return was brief as Fox induced a faint edge to wicketkeeper Anthony Manders.

However, any notion Stars had of steam rolling through the remainder were slowly erased by the tandem of teenagers Chris Foggo (33) and Rudell Pitcher (35). Foggo, a student of Arnold Manders at Berkeley, proved particularly stubborn for his tutor, while Pitcher, despite living a charmed existence, provided a solid foil.

Displaying a fine array of strokes, Foggo drove and cut his way around six bowlers as he and Pitcher put on 73 for the fifth wicket, taking the score from 41 for four to 114 before Pitcher's lofted drive off Arnold Manders was caught by Cleon Scotland at deep midwicket.

It was then left for Fox to wrap up the tail and he did so in methodical fashion, ending Foggo's resistance with a full length delivery and then shattering the guards of Jonathan Santucci (0) and Scott Minors (0), while Arnold Manders chipped in with the final wicket, that of George O'Brien (six).

Brangman finished two for 34 from 11 overs while Manders ended with two for 13 from 10.3.

Earlier Stars set the groundwork with a sparkling batting display that saw three record half centuries.

Last year's scoring leader Albert Steede led the way with a ravaging 84 not out that included 14 fours and a six and encompassed just 74 balls.

Steede participated in an unbroken fourth wicket stand with Andre Manders (51 not out), the pair carrying the home side to 232 before declaring.

Gibbons was likewise in a belligerent mood, stroking five sixes and three fours in a quickfire 53, as he put on 70 for the first wicket alongside Gregory Sampson (27) and 18 with Steede before falling to Lionel Cann.

Cann was the most successful bowler for St. David's, although his two wickets came at a cost of 78 runs. Left-arm spinner Kameron Fox got the other wicket to tumble, that of Scotland (five).