Against a doctor's advice Clay Smith risked further damage to his injured shoulder by playing in Sunday's win over Southampton Rangers, which extended St. George's unbeaten league record to 11 matches.

It was a match he need not have played, but the absence of middle-order batsman Lewis Foggo prompted Smith to play even though he had not been picked initially.

"It took a lot of guts,'' Smith said.

He explained how he attempted to cut the very first ball he faced and felt some discomfort in his right shoulder, which made him question the decision to play.

Like older brother Wendell, Clay has responded well after injury.

Wendell has only played in three matches this season because of knee trouble but has had scores of 38, 68 and 82.

On Sunday, he and Clay put on 120 for the second wicket to lead the team to a comfortable eight-wicket win, which maintained four-point lead over Western Stars with four matches remaining.

Sunday's win means that they have likely cleared the last major hurdle in their pursuit of another league championship.

"It was really a testing target once we lost Dexter (Smith) and I knew my brother and I had to do it,'' Clay explained.

"I was looking to support rather than score. Wendell and I did a good job, it was 120 for two when he got out.

"The wicket suited their bowlers really well. There was a lot of grass on the wicket and they were seaming the ball.'' Despite the injury, Clay hit seven fours and six sixes in his knock of 98 not out as Rangers were made to pay for dropping him on 35. He was denied his second century of the season when the winning runs came from a Janeiro Tucker delivery that went down the leg side for four byes.

"In my first 30 or 40 I struggled, my timing was off and I was not middling the ball,'' explained Smith.

"From 50 to 90 I was like a totally different batsman. I was pleased with it apart from getting dropped.'' Smith said the shoulder felt much better yesterday than he thought it would, but there is every indication he will follow the doctor's advice now and rest the shoulder, which was separated when he took a diving catch off Arnold Manders the previous weekend. He was initially expected to be out of action for about a month.

"Actually this morning there was not too much discomfort,'' Smith explained.

"I went for a swim right away. It really didn't bother me as much as I thought it would.

"It bothered me yesterday, especially short-pitched bowling, which I had to play off the back foot, using my right hand more.

"I woke up on Saturday morning and felt so-so and with Lewis Foggo away this week I felt my presence would help contribute to the team.'' Smith took some pain killers and applied ice to the shoulder after the game, but he said there is still some soreness around the bone area.

Now that St. George's have avoided Rangers and Devonshire Rec. in the quarter-final draw for this weekend's Knockout Cup, Smith will likely sit out the match against Police to give the shoulder sufficient time to heal -- maybe. St. George's were last on course for the double in 1990 but Rangers spoiled that by beating them in the knockout final.

They are hot favourites to complete that feat this season and going through the league unbeaten would put icing on the cake.

CLAY SMITH -- Hit unbeaten 98 against Southampton on Sunday despite shoulder injury to help put St. George's in commanding position at top of league.