Ormskirk maintain pace as Bootle slide

May 12 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

A COMBINATION of young and old thwarted Firwood Bootle’s chance of maintaining pace with leaders Ormskirk.

The Business Assistance Liverpool Competition Premier League champions, as usual, did everything right at Northern to record their fifth victory of the season. Well, almost everything.

Craig Prince (42) and Ian Cockbain junior (43) provided another sound start for the visitors with 84, and David Snellgrove (68) and Stephen Parry (62 not out) kept up the momentum with 98 for the third wicket in registering 242-5 declared (48 overs) after electing to bat. Jack Woosey took 3-83.

Despite opener Nick Woods’ solid 72 and James Cole’s 40, Northern’s last wicket pair were exposed for nine overs.

But 16-year-old Jack Boardman, with a fighting 46 not out, helped by a stubborn knock from his 41-year-old skipper Phil Cooper (four not out), stood their ground to end on 223-9 (65). Parry enjoyed an impressive spell of 5-63.

It enabled Ormskirk to increase their lead to 16 points following a high scoring clash with New Brighton.

The Wirral side, struggling for form, called a halt at 219-9 declared (64) after winning the toss. Charitha Fernando made 54 and shared a key stand of 80 for the sixth wicket with Lawrence Wilson (31), while Simon Kerrigan took 4-50.

Ormskirk’s John Simpson (71) and Matthew Glayzer (52) spearheaded the reply, and then James Illingworth guided them home by four wickets with an unbeaten 38, Fernando finishing with 3-45.

It might be premature to consider Southport & Birkdale as title contenders – but you couldn’t doubt their fighting spirit to earn a pulsating draw against Colwyn Bay with the scores level.

Bay skipper Paul Jenkins was involved throughout, producing superb figures of 7-55 off 23.4 overs as the home club reached 204-9 declared (61.4) after electing to bat. Consistent Josh Hine made 60.

Sion Morris (59) and Charlie Clubb (50) gave the Welsh side hope of their first win, but Kyle Cranston’s accurate throw to run out Jenkins as he raced for a match-winning second run saw them achieve 204-6 (Patrick Jackson 3-47).

Wallasey experienced victory for the first time this season by three wickets over St Helens Recs. They restricted the visitors to 149 (Stuart Lyon 56 not out) off 43 overs and Chris Bourne, who had taken 4-27, hit an unbeaten 39 in the chase.

Nathan Heathcliff-Core made a gallant 66 not out in a Hightown total of 149 (50.2), but Lytham coasted home by eight wickets. Home skipper Jimmy Wisniewski, who had earlier taken 4-31, shared an unbroken stand of 125 with Nick Knight (58 not out).

Formby looked capable of matching Prestatyn’s 245-3 declared – Daniel Thomas (106 not out) and Gareth Boughey (63) putting on 128 for the second wicket – but after Dave Hadden (58) and captain Steve Dutton (56) opened with 110, they fell away to 188-8 (52).

Gary Wells top scored with 95 for Fleetwood Hesketh, who compiled 243-5 declared (55) after being inserted by Maghull, Ryan Swiers taking 3-65. The visitors’ captain Niall McDonnell contributed 73 in reply, but they ended on 193-8 (Kasun Bodhisha 4-41, Neil Davies 3-70).