Champions’ struggle goes on
FIRWOOD Bootle’s defence of their Love Lane Liverpool Competition title is lurching from bad to worse, as Sunday’s defeat to Leigh left them languishing in the bottom two of the ECB Premier Division.
Neil Williams’ men still have a game in hand on Southport & Birkdale, one point above them, after Saturday’s programme was washed out across all three divisions.
But Sunday’s rearranged game – in which visiting skipper Karl Brown took 6/26 to dismiss the hosts for 75, before helping wrap up a four-wicket triumph – represented a missed opportunity to pull away from danger.
After next weekend’s doubleheader with Orrell Red Triangle, there will be no more second chances.
The Competition’s management committee announced last week there will be no more rearranged games owing to Covid, and that any future matches which have to be called off will be recorded as abandoned, with five points a side.
The hope is that July’s flurry of outbreaks has passed and the virus will not play a significant role in the remainder of the season.
Fixtures which have already been rearranged will still be played on their new dates.
“As we approach the final six weeks of the season, it is clear that there is now insufficient time to replay any games cancelled due to COVID reasons, other than those already approved,” the management committee and Restart Group said on Friday.
“Clubs have clearly mandated the league to ensure the maintenance and activation of promotion and relegation as a priority and we wish to preserve the integrity of the league programme to deliver this.”
The statement added that the planned further relaxation of COVID rules next Monday – with fewer people being forced into isolation – should help clubs fulfill their fixtures.
The only other game played to a finish was another rearranged clash on Sunday – and what a finish it was, in the Division One encounter between Birkenhead Park and
Rainford. Chasing 181 after Andrew Davies took 5/72, the visitors made it to 118/3 thanks to Jason Login’s 88. But Login’s dismissal – one of seven wickets for Saytajeet Bachhav – sparked a slump to 133/7.
Skipper John Dotters had the final say though, guiding the tail to the brink then scampering the winning single to earn a one-wicket win.
There was time for some cricket on Saturday – even the British summer weather won’t stop Wallasey’s Sumit Ruikar taking wickets.
He claimed 6/51 to make it 59 in the league this season as Formby could only manage 121; the Wirral visitors can count themselves unlucky, with their reply at 54/1 when the rain came.
Leaders Northern managed 158/6 before their encounter with Leigh was washed out; and Tyler McGladdery’s 59 led Rainhill to 200/5 at Southport & Birkdale, who closed on 26/1.
In Division One, Northop Hall’s game with Lytham lasted one over –the hosts were 4/0, for the completists among you – while Fleetwood Hesketh made 125/5 at Colwyn Bay.
Division Two’s action will be fondly remembered by Connor Windell, who made an unbeaten 67 as Caldy made 183/3 against Maghull; Alder reduced Prestatyn to 63/6 before the weather closed in.