Formby find life life tough at the top

Apr 14 2008 by David Jones, Liverpool Daily Post

IT probably wasn’t quite the start they had dreamed of but Formby at least showed a fighting spirit which will no doubt benefit them in cricket’s top flight.

The First Division champions of 2007, facing a tough Liverpool Competition Premier League opener against Northern, found life in the higher division a more difficult proposition as their wickets tumbled at regular intervals after being inserted by the Crosby club.

The old head of Dave Conlan, who has plenty of experience playing in the Premier with the likes of Firwood Bootle and Wallasey, at least made a one-man stand, hitting a valuable 43 and achieving the feat of being the only Formby batsman to reach double figures!

That they reached 83 all out in 29.1 overs was mainly down to him as left arm spinner Nick Woods (4-14 off 9.1 overs) and Northern captain Phil Cooper (3-10 off five) mainly caused the problems.

Only time will tell what effect the loss of last summer’s run machines, Carl Hey and Steve Mullaney, will have on Northern in the new campaign. But they, too, did not find batting easy as the home side showed a determination to make a fight of it.

However, Australian Michael Johnson (28) and Adrian Fraser (19 not out) steadied things and they edged home by three wickets in 28.3 overs, with John Taylor (4-22) and Tony Rogan (3-25) the pick of the home attack.

The wet weather of last week wrecked the hopes of most clubs ready for action, and only three matches in total were possible.

Patrick Jackson produced a whirlwind performance for Southport in their 19-run win at Wallasey with just five balls to spare in the only other Premier game played.

The Australian, who averaged over 55 last season in achieving the 1,000 run milestone, smashed 14 sixes and eight fours in an entertaining 146 out of his team’s total of 190-6 declared off 34 overs after they had lost the toss.

He was dropped three times, including a chance early on, but the overseas player made the most of the shortened boundary due to the wet outfield to plunder the runs in just 87 balls.

Wallasey began brightly in reply, with Kuran Makol (60) and newcomer Paul Harrison (45) sharing a stand of 73 to take the home side past three figures for the loss of one wicket.

But Jackson’s display with the ball was almost as devastating as with the bat, taking 7-59 off 12.1 overs, as the Wirral side made a gallant if unsuccessful response, being finally dismissed for 171 off 37.1 overs. Dave Britton chipped in with 3-29 off nine overs.

Newto- le-Willows were on the receiving end of a heavy opening day defeat at Northop Hall, losing by nine wickets in the only First Division game.

The Welsh side’s new captain, Danny Nolan, could not have made a more impressive start. Having inserted Newton, he took 5-11 off 7.1 impressive overs and, with Ata-ur-Rehman returning 3-41 off 16, they dismissed the visitors for 72 in 32.1 overs. Skipper Ian Walkden top scored with 30.

The home side required only 20.4 overs to knock them off, with Ed Markey (32 not out) and James Dyer (30 not out) ensuring a comfortable start to their season.

JUST one game survived the weather on the opening day of the season in the Bromborough Paints Merseyside and Southport Alliance First Division.

Relegated Southport Trinity went under by 35 runs at home to Moorfield. Rob Magee hit 62 in Moorfield’s declared total of 153-9.

Liam Drane with 4-26 and Rob Yeardsley with 3-38 helped dismiss Trinity for 118 of which Dominic Butler contributed 70. Jamie Haines claimed 3-28 for the losers.

No matches started in Division Two whilst the Merseyside Competition programme is scheduled to begin this coming Saturday.

Score: Merseyside and Southport Alliance: Southport Trinity 118 (D.Butler 70, L.Drane 4-26), Moorfield 153-9 dec (R.Magee 62).