WI local: Police lose more ground

There seems to be a certain resignation within the Stansfeld Scott Police camp that the Courts Suzuki Division 1 Cup will leave Weymouth this year.

Captain Rudolph Clarke wasn't quite ready to totally concede that probability after yesterday's draw but he did acknowledge that the lawmen had now focused their batons on the Barbados Fire & Commercial Cup.

After forfeiting the previous two matches as a result of a force-wide sick-out, Police still entertained thoughts of a flurry of wins to propel them into contention.

But having played no serious cricket for four weeks, they came up short against Cockspur Wanderers, losing on first innings.

Clarke said the team's rustiness showed in this comeback match and it was going to be tough from now on.

Police are on ten points, 23 behind leaders ESA Field Pickwick.

'It will show that we Police are tough mentally and physically if we can come from behind,' he told SunSport.

'We are in good spirits, in a willing mood and want to assure the Bajan public of some good cricket from Police.

'We would like to sail from here on in and finish in the top three.'

As far as the one-day Fire Cup was concerned, Clarke said he needed more consistency from the batsmen if Police were to win for the first time since 1994.

He may have found a flicker of light in 22-year-old newcomer Alex Bellamy, who hit out robustly amid the gathering gloom to reach his first half-century in Division 1 before rain ended play well before tea.

Bellamy, a graduate of the Sports Programme of the Barbados Defence Force and a member of their Premier League winning team last year, smashed five sixes and four fours.

He later declared that it was all so easy.

'There were a lot of half-volleys and half-volleys are made to lick,' said the surprise national trialist for the 2000 Busta Cup.

Bellamy, playing his second top league match, is not a policeman but qualifies for the team by virtue of his membership of the Police Boys' and Girls' Club.

Resuming at nine without loss, Police hustled to 86 before Dwayne Brathwaite was leg before to Ian Bradshaw for 23. Bellamy was unbeaten on 56.