Triangle in shape to take over as Burscough hit by wash out

ORRELL Red Triangle moved to the top of a typically tightly-contested First Division of the Liverpool Gin Liverpool Competition on Saturday evening after they defeated Sefton Park by six wickets at Winstanley Road.

Afaq Sartaj took 5-23 in Sefton Park’s innings of 117 all out in 33.5 overs and Sam Heeley’s 34 not out completed what was a relatively straightforward win.

However, not all clubs enjoyed themselves as much as Orrell’s cricketers on a damp afternoon and no team had a worse time of it than Newton-le-Willows who were dismissed for 28, their lowest-ever total in the Competition, in their match against Fleetwood Hesketh.

Neil Rimmer’s 39 was the largest individual contribution to the home side’s 172-8 declared in 51.3 overs but that total was made to seem enormous as Jack Wrigglesworth and Steve Gregory cut through Newton’s batting in a mere 14.3 overs. Wrigglesworth finished with 4-14 while Gregory picked up 5-14 in a victory which took the Sea Cop side up to fourth in the table.

Prestatyn’s home game against Hightown St Mary’s featured two fine centuries but it was the Beach Close side who were celebrating after Gareth Boughey’s 88-ball 111 had taken them to a six-wicket victory.

This, though, was hard on HStM’s Matty White whose 136 off 170 balls had included 18 fours and a six, Prestayn seamer Kieron New doing his best to keep a lid on the runrate by taking 4-77.

Two other matches were severely afttected by the weather and ended in draws.

Skipper James Taylor made 65 in Highfield’s 153 all out in 36.5 overs and the home side were 67-7 at stumps, Robert Halliwell’s 4-31 having done most of the damage.

Birkenhead Park had by far the best of things but not the points for the win from their draw against Skelmersdale. Replying to the visitors’ 134-8, Skem were 69-9 at the close. Park’s Alex Harris took 4-18 and Harry Meehan, 3-17.

The encounter between Wigan and Burscough fell victim to the weather.