Win over Alder confirms Liverpool’s promotion to Division One

LIVERPOOL confirmed their return to Division One with a 60-run win over bottom club Alder.

The hosts’ Ryan Trafford-Walker gave them a scare, taking 5/52 to bowl them out for 104, but Dan Kelly took 5/14 and Chris Blythe 5/20 to seal the win they needed.

And they followed up their success by winning the Ray Tyler Cup on Sunday – beating Division One leaders Newton-le-Willows by 33 runs. Kelly was again the star man, taking 5/26 to help his side defend their total of 99.

St Helens edged a low-scoring derby clash with Sutton by three runs 2 2 2 2 2 3 0 5 3 2 2 5 0 5 3 4 4 3 1 9 3 1 9 3 0 11 3 0 12 4 0 14 3 0 16 3 13 38 316 41 29 315 16 30 301 18 37 299 20 19 294 32 32 239 34 42 231 24 42 220 25 41 216 11 41 136 20 35 128 9 51 80 to consolidate second place. The hosts’ Jamie Greener took 7/20 as the promotion hopefuls crumbled for 50; but Phil Murgatroyd took 5/8 and Town lost their last eight wickets for just 18 runs.

Caldy stayed in contention, defending 96 to beat Southport Trinity by 11 runs. Chris Edwards was the star for the visitors, taking 5/41. Spring View fell 27 runs short of Norley Hall’s 162, while Parkfield Liscard – thanks to 72 from Kamran Hussain and 67 from Robert Courtney, chased 208 to beat Maghull by three wickets.

And Jayden Schadendorf struck 58 to lead Hightown St Mary’s chase of 104 at Burscough, winning by nine wickets. ROBBIE HOUGHTON began the day needing one wicket to celebrate 1,000 scalps for Sefton Park – he ended it having taken 8/48 and top-scored with 43 as Park blew the promotion race open with a four-wicket win over Wigan.

Houghton helped dismiss the hosts for 120, before steadying a few nerves after Park slipped to 17/2 in reply.

Wigan lost top spot to Newton-le-Willows, after Sam Guest ran through the Wavertree line-up with 6/24, before the batsmen chased 83 to win by eight wickets.

Newton, though, have only one game left to the others’ two.

Rainford kept in the hunt with a four-wicket win over Northop Hall. They travel to Sefton Park next Saturday for a potentially decisive clash.

Highfield retain an outside chance after a 117-run win over Ainsdale. Captain James Taylor ruthlessly declared at 55 overs, with the score on 202/6 and Madduma Lakmal on 99 – Lakmal then took 4/5 to wrap up the win, with Chris Liptrot claiming 5/28.

Old Xaverians’ Mark Doyle took 6/29 to wrap up an 18-run win over Fleetwood Hesketh, for whom Bobby Wincer had earlier taken 6/24 to dismiss the hosts for 110.

Wavertree are down, but Hesketh can still catch Prestatyn, who slipped to a 44-run defeat at the hands of Birkenhead Park. 0 20 33 358 0 26 26 311 0 37 35 287 0 24 46 265 0 28 24 232 0 42 40 227 0 11 53 224 0 24 43 217 0 38 35 193 0 26 31 192 0 34 38 177 0 11 36 97