Firwood Bootle mark anniversary with win

Jun 23 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

Firwood Bootle mark anniversary with win

FIRWOOD Bootle rounded off a week of celebration for their 175th anniversary with a comfortable win over St Helens Recs.

Victory over Recs keeps them out in front of Ormskirk, but these two look to be gradually pulling away, especially with New Brighton’s first defeat in seven games.

The Wadham Road outfit totalled 191-6 declared (35.5) after losing the toss, mainly through Gavin Reynolds (79, 10 fours) and Craig Prince (46), who combined with 98 for the second wicket. Gary Freeman took 3-46.

Adam Warren’s accurate spell of 5-44 made inroads into the visitors’ reply, which reached 159 (48.1), with Adam Tatlock making 47.

There was a hiccup for Ormskirk on their way to condemning Wallasey to a five-wicket defeat keeping them in the relegation zone of the Business Assistance Liverpool Competition Premier League.

Chasing the Wirral side’s 120 (John Pugh 31), in which Simon Kerrigan starred with 5-31, the home side stumbled from 71-0 to 90-5. After John Armstrong (39) and Matthew Glayzer (30) had made the fine start, Neil Wagner (22 not out) and David Heyes (12 not out) steadied them after the tumble of wickets. Clarkson took 3-16.

New Brighton crashed to some magic by Jannisar Khan, who polished off the tail with a hat-trick.

The Pakistan bowler finished with 7-67, as Hightown’s 48 run win lifted them into the top five.

The home side set the title hopefuls a challenging 206-8 declared (48 overs), in which Nathan Heathcliff-Core played a vital role with an unbeaten 88 (nine fours). Fernando impressed with 4-50 off 17.

Andrew Warhurst stung the visitors with two wickets in the second over before Martyn Evans (57) and Lawrence Wilson (42 not out) led a recovery. But the sting in the tale came from Khan, who polished off the innings at 158 with the last three wickets in three balls.

Colwyn Bay won by eight wickets over Maghull to edge into mid table.

Only Suwanji Madanayake (48) enjoyed a reasonable knock as the visitors were dismissed for 146 after losing the toss. Paul Jenkins (5-26 off 13) and Debasis Mohanty (3-44) did the damage before Charlie Clubb (61 not out) and Patrick Leach (45) set up victory with 90 for the first wicket.

Formby got within two runs of success in a game at Fleetwood Hesketh which ended in a draw.

The visitors needed a four off the last ball but they ended at 142-6 off their 27 overs in reply to Hesketh’s 143-9 declared.

Southport & Birkdale’s game with Lytham was abandoned through the weather, while Northern’s game with Prestatyn is set for another date.