Northop top as lead changes hands again

Jul 7 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

THREE different leaders in three weeks proves the Liverpool Competition First Division is as changeable as the weather.

Leaders Rainford crashed at Skelmersdale on Saturday, while Leigh, who drew with Sefton Park last week to lose top spot, went down at Highfield, allowing Northop Hall to take over again. The Welsh side’s second win on the bounce secured lead billing as they hammered Huyton. Captain Danny Nolan (3-24) and Simon Butler (3-25) restricted the bottom club to 139 (Dave Hutton 40) after putting them in, and then Butler (49 not out) and Matthew Cree (43) guided them to a six-wicket win.

Rainford were skittled for 110 at Skelmersdale, where Phil Armstrong (4-37) and Jonas Smith and Hemal Watekar (both 3-26) did the damage, before Watekar (44 not out) and Andy Molyneux (40) paved the way for victory by six wickets. Niranjan Behera (4-18) and Chris Liptrot (3-50) saw off Leigh for 141 at Highfield, who improved their challenge with a four-wicket win. Sean Casham hit 38 and Jaffar Nazir took 4-53.

Sefton Park find themselves in the bottom four after a collapse against Newton le Willows. The visitors set 166-5 declared off 44.3 overs (Rob Houghton 3-53), with Mike Walkden (52) and Ian Lyon (49) sharing 84 for the fourth wicket after being inserted. The home openers added 50, but later five wickets went down on the same total, 119, in 18 balls, and they capitulated at 122 (Aaron Scott 5-26, Ian Lyon 3-25).

Wavertree’s plight at second bottom is a cause for concern after managing only one success from the last 10 games. They slumped to 17-3 against an improved St Helens side and never recovered. Former Pakistani Test all-rounder Mohammed Hafeez took 4-36 in a home total of 117 (Howard Carver 30) and then he hit 41 as the visitors won by six wickets. Narender Negi had 3-20.

Challenging Wigan drew with Orrell Red Triangle, for whom Adnan Malik (77) and captain Chris Riley (41) did well as they scored 181-6 declared (51). The home side replied with 162-7 (36) through Richard Smith (57) and Andy Ford (44). Andrew Mercer took 4-71 and Malik 3-56.