Saints ease drop fears

AON St Saviour's took a massive step towards Barclays Premier One safety with a vital win over Deutsche Bank Taverners. The two points, comfortably earned in the end, took St Saviour's level with Taverners and St Pierre and left Deloitte marooned at the bottom of the table with four points.

St Saviour's captain Richard Veillard, who put Taverners into bat, was happy to be chasing 143 in 19 overs - rightly so as it proved.

St Saviour's were always ahead of the rate in their chase. Gary Tapp lifted Robbie Moore for six in the second over and raced into the forties as his side rattled along at nine an over.

Moore used six bowlers to try and stem the tide, but only Justin Scriven was able to offer any control.

He claimed the wicket of Spencer Noyon at 95 in the 12th over but then Veillard took control.

Tapp eased past his half-century and his skipper hit the winning runs with three overs to spare in making 29 from 18 balls.

'Today was a crucial game for us,' said Veillard, whose team still have to play the three leading teams. The only fellow strugglers they have to face are DHS St Pierre.

'I wouldn't say we're safe now but realistically the worst we can get is probably a play-off.'

Last night was the first time all season that Veillard had been able to select his registered XI, and the upturn in St Saviour's fortunes is in stark contrast to Taverners' slump.

The effort was there from the perennial strugglers, who enjoyed such a good start to the season, but the bowling was simply not good enough.

Taverners managed just seven boundaries in their innings, St Saviour's struck 17. Scriven was the only bowler to go for less than eight an over.

The batting was consistent down the card.

Moore and James Falla opened with a 50 partnership in nine overs, before Moore's first big shot was his downfall, caught at cover.

Mark Bisson took over, struck three fours in one Gary Cordery over and together with Andy Boyce, pushed the total towards a competitive target.

Bisson completed his maiden Premier One 50 in the final over and Taverners would have been fairly happy with their effort.

* PAUL LE COCQ has achieved the extraordinary feat of taking five wickets in five balls.

In action for Aon St Saviour's D against C&W Rovers D at Delancey Park, the Channel Islands over-50s' player claimed his first wicket with the final ball of his second over and completed his hat-trick with the first two of his third. He then added a couple more for good measure with the next two deliveries. All of the wickets were bowled.

He claimed two more scalps in his final over to finish with amazing figures of 7 for 6.

'The secret was bowling straight and that's the way I have always bowled,' said Le Cocq.