Liverpool capitalise after leaders Leigh lose

Jun 9 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL and Orrell Red Triangle were among the beneficiaries after Leigh’s run of seven successive wins came to an end.

Rainford produced the result of the day to move third, and the leaders’ demise helped the other two to close the gap.

Only 36 points separate the top six, with Rainford pushing their claims for promotion after just one season in the Liverpool Competition First Division by moving into third spot.

Leigh floundered for 111, with Andrew Pickavance taking 4-27. Michael Rimmer then hit 56 to secure the result, despite Paul Vallance’s spell of 6-23.

Orrell Red Triangle were merciless against Sefton Park. Richard Smith (81 not out, eight fours) and Adnan Malik (67, two sixes, five fours) boosted the total to 214-6 declared.

Paceman Andrew Mercer then routed the visitors for 91 with 7-30 off 18.1 overs.

Liverpool hit a single off the last ball for a thrilling win at Wigan to put them sixth. The home side set 230 and the visitors owed much to James McNally (67), Titmuss (38) and Terry Rollock (36), as they got home by one wicket.

Two teenagers played key roles as Ainsdale beat Skelmersdale by 48 runs. Tom Prescott, only 15, top scored with 25, batting at nine to lift a home score from 112-7 to 159.

Then 16-year-old pace bowler Richard Stanyon took 4-27 and Yasir Ali 3-53 as the visitors, who lost Jonas Smith with a fractured thumb before he later batted to try and save the game, were dismissed for 111 (Michael Clarke 54).

Jonathan Nation (4-16), Stewart Guy (3-36) and Narender Negi (3-64) helped restrict Highfield to 169 (48.5) after Wavertree had won the toss, but the home batting disappointed in a score of 95 (Niranjan Behera 4-13).

Northop Hall retain second spot following a comfortable six-wicket win at St Helens.

The home side totalled 154 (41) after electing to bat, Rakesh Patel making 39 and Simon Butler taking 5-59. But James Cree (83) and Dave Kennedy (40 not out) put on 121 for the fourth wicket in the victory chase. Patel ended with 3-57.

Huyton collapsed from 20-0 to 31-5, but were finally dismissed for 109 (Mike Walkden 3-29) after Newton-le-Willows had set them 178 (Tony Boardman 40, Danny Barlow 39). However, the visitors’ leg spinner Joseph Fargin returned excellent figures of 6-72.