Formby secure second after beating Wallasey
WITH both the title and the relegation places settled there was only the runners-up spot to be decided on the final day of the ECB Premier League season and that went to Formby after their 49-run victory over Wallasey at The Oval.
Stephen Parry made 56 not out and then took 6-46 as the home side replied to Formby’s 205 with 156 all out.
However, there was a little consolation for Wallasey’s insouciant medium-pacer, Chris Bourne, who ended the season with 6-58.
Ormskirk finished third after their 172run victory over Birkenhead Park.
George Lavelle made an unbeaten century off 77 balls and Josh Bohannon added 87 as Matt Glayzer’s team piled up 254-5 declared before Nicky Caunce’s 5-26 and Tom Hartley’s 3-11 dismissed Park for 82.
Champions Leigh proved that their appetite for further success is as keen as ever when they beat Rainford by seven wickets.
Another five-wicket haul for Matt McKiernan and four scalps for Karl Brown saw the home side bowled out for 112 before Ross Zelem’s unbeaten 69 saw to business in the second innings.
Former champions New Brighton ended their season on a positive note when they beat Northern by seven wickets at Moor Park.
Justin Snow made 43 in the home side’s 177 all out but Mark Rowland’s 50 and a 40 not out which included four sixes by Andy Clarke exposed this total.
Bootle ended their season with a fourwicket victory over Colwyn Bay at Penrhyn Avenue, Chris Stenhouse took 5-23 in the Welsh side’s 112 all out in 29.1 overs and Danny Davies’s 45 helped Craig Prince’s men go into the close season in good heart.
Rainhill ended the season in eighth place after recording a 44-run win over Lytham.
Mike Rotherham made 38 in the home team’s 183-9 declared and David Atkinson’s 4-58 helped dismiss the under-performing Fylde side for 139.
ECB Premier League: Final Standings: Leigh 368 pts, Formby 345, Ormskirk 335, Northern 324, Bootle 320, Wallasey 257, New Brighton 254, Rainhill 246, Lytham 227, Colwyn Bay 215, Rainford 163, Birkenhead Park 143.