Cricket: Tense finale as Competition closes in on climax

Sep 14 2007 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

THE final league matches of the cricket season are often played out in an atmosphere of carnival.

But most of that will be forgotten in the First Division of the Business Assistance Liverpool Competition tomorrow as eight of the 14 sides face vital promotion or relegation matches.

At the top of the table four clubs covered by 13 points will battle it out for the right to join Formby in the Premier League next year. Seven wins in their last 11 games have put Northop Hall in pole position to join the elite but James Dyer's side have a tough assignment when they visit fifth-placed Sefton Park.

While a 25-point haul for the North Wales team will settle matters, anything less will open the door for Prestatyn, who entertain Rainhill, or even Newton-le-Willows, who play host to champions Formby.

At the bottom of the league Rainhill occupy the unlucky 13th place and are perhaps favourites to join Southport Trinity in the Merseyside and Southport Cricket Alliance in 2008, especially in view of their difficult trip to Beach Close.

However, the clash at Aigburth between Liverpool and Orrell Red Triangle, the teams just above Rainhill in the table, will be no place for the nervous, and Highfield's visitors Ainsdale are not yet completely out of danger either. Business Assistance have extended their sponsorship of the Liverpool Competition until the end of the 2011 season.

How they stand: Formby 403 pts, Northop Hall 342, Prestatyn 342, Newton-le-Willows 336, Sefton Park 329. Bottom: Ainsdale 234, Orrell Red Triangle 230, Liverpool 223, Rainhill 222, Southport Trinity 153