Police made a bold fightback after an anaemic batting performance but in the end were undone by the rulebook at Police field yesterday.

The pace of Roger Blades and seam bowling of Michael Jackman had St. George's in deep trouble at 45 for five when the second and more significant stoppage for rain ruined their chances of a shock victory.

Ricky Hodsoll and Clay Smith, batting at number seven to protect his injured right shoulder, needed eight runs to win from four overs when St. George's returned to the crease at 6.45 p.m. after losing 90 minutes.

The asking total had earlier been reduced to 105 from 40 overs when the first rain showers did not allow play for 30 minutes after the tea break.

Blades had earlier accounted for Dexter Smith (six) caught off bat and pad by silly mid-on fielder Dennis Archer, then Wendell Smith went without scoring after top-edging an attempted pull against Jackman.

Hodsoll and Graham Fox restored order somewhat with a 28-run stand before Jackman found Fox's outside edge and wicket-keeper Terry Thomas took a simple catch.

Fox made what proved to be a vital 23 in 20 minutes with two sixes and two fours.

Blades then bowled Dean Minors without scoring with a yorker and shortly after the first stoppage Lewis Foggo became his third victim, slashing to Donovan Livingston at second slip.

The situation was indeed dire with Eugene Foggo the only recognised batsman left in the pavilion, but the rain eventually made Police pay for their low total.

Only seven deliveries were needed to score the winning runs.

Blades finished with three for 26 and Jackman two for 24.

Earlier, St. George's began without their regular opening attack of Kenny Phillips and Greg Foggo. Phillips is nursing a back injury while Foggo was a late arrival, so the new ball went to Fox and Hodsoll.

Fox responded in kind by taking the wicket of Dwayne Leverock for nought on his fifth ball.

And when the score was 30, Hodsoll had Ferdinand Thorne caught behind for seven.

After 55 was made in the first 10 overs, the east-enders turned to the spin of David Adams and Eugene Foggo and the scoring rate dropped.

Police skipper Archer, who opened the innings, lost two more partners before he pulled a Dexter Smith delivery to Lewis Foggo on the long-on boundary to make the score 106 for five.

Archer made 48 in 113 minutes, which included two sixes and four fours.

Livingston contributed 17, David Greenidge 16 and Jackman 14 not out.

Greg Foggo cleaned up the tail to finish with four for 19 from 6.1 overs while Adams claimed two for 24 in his 10 overs.

Hamilton Parish 62 Southampton 65-1 From the first ball of the innings when Quinton Burch held a return catch to remove Millard Bean, Hamilton Parish captain Dennis Trott must have regretted his decision to bat first on a Wellington Oval wicket that had suffered from a heavy rain shower.

The match was an hour late in starting with the innings of both teams reduced to 43 overs. And though Rangers struck gold immediately, Parish recovered with a second-wicket stand of 44 in 17 overs between Mike Burgess (29) and Irving Burgess (13) that suggested they intended to make a game of it.

However, few were prepared for what was to follow as Parish slumped from 44 for one to 62 all out, the last five wickets falling for no runs in two overs as Janeiro Tucker, Olin Jones and Clevie Wade all claimed three wickets.

Tucker had three for 12 from nine overs, Jones three for 10 and Wade three for nought in just one over to rip through the Parish middle and late order. After the two Burgesses, no other Parish reached double figures as their innings lasted just 29.1 overs.

Rangers needed just 12.4 overs to reach their modest target with Janeiro Tucker, opening the innings with Keith Wainwright, scoring 30 not out and Quinton Burch 18 not out.

The only success for Parish was the wicket of Wainwright for 11 when the score was 25 but Rangers coasted to victory with the last 30 runs coming in the first 13 minutes after the tea break.

AGONY AND ECSTASY -- Police captain Dennis Archer rejoices after Roger Blades bowls Dean Minors for nought yesterday.