KENT Spitfires eased to one of their quickest one-day successes in beating Glamorgan by nine wickets to strengthen their grip on top spot in the Friends Provident Trophy Southern Conference at Canterbury on Sunday.

They needed just 11.4 overs to score the 86 runs needed to earn their fourth win in five group matches, completing the task just after 2.30pm, as Geraint Jones and Andrew Hall made lightwork of the Glamorgan attack following the early loss of Darren Stevens.

The victory also boosted the team's run rate in the competition, as Jones made 44 not out off 37 balls, while Hall raced to unbeaten 40 off 27 deliveries, the South African all-rounder scoring the winning runs with a four to the square leg.

Jones was quickly into his stride with four boundaries and then claimed two more off successive balls from Alex Wharf, who Hall then drove through the covers twice, before hitting newcomer Damian Wright for six and four in two deliveries.

The Kent faithful were heading for the exits early, consoled by the early season form in one-day cricket that has put them in pole position in the group, helped by rain-offs elsewhere and Hampshire's tie against Somerset last week.

The Dragons captain, David Hemp, has no hesitation in batting first after winning the toss. But that proved to be the Welsh county's only success of the day as Ryan McClaren and Simon Cook helped themselves to four wickets apiece, supported by some highly impressive slip catching.

Hall started the rout, having Wharf caught low down by Stevens at backward point for a single. Then Nicky Peng edged him to van Jaarsveld at second slip - the first of three - and Glamoragn were struggling at 13-2 in the eighth over.

Jimmy Maher and Michael Powell then provided the first real resistance of the innings, before the latter was bowled by McClaren for 18, shortly after needing treatment after being struck on the left knee.

He then removed Mahr, again thanks to the safe hands of van Jaarsveld, then Ben Wright went to the same combination.

Mark Wallace drove Cook to James Treadwell at mid-off, giving Cook his first wicket, leaving Glamorgan teetering on the brink at 76-6. The end was not long coming.

Hemp, with a top score of 25, and Damien Wright, both went to catches by Jones, and the Kent medium pacer wrapped up the innings in successive balls, sending back former skipper Robert Croft and last man Huw Waters.

He just missed out on improving his competition best made against Wilts in 2005.

McClaren took his Trophy tally to 11 in five matches leaving Jones and Hall to finish the job.

Glamorgan had tasted some heady days in one-day cricket at the St Lawrence Ground over the years, but this was not one of them.

And one felt sorry felt sorry for the travelling supporters who left home at the crack of dawn to see it.