S&B thirds secure title against rivals
FOR the second time in three weeks Southport and Birkdale’s hopes of recording their fourth victory of the season were frustrated by rain on Saturday when only 6.5 overs’ play was possible in their ECB Premier League match against Formby.
Barely had mopping up been completed following the morning’s downpour before further showers forced the players from the field for good.
And yet there is also a strong case that last weekend was the most encouraging the Trafalgar Road club has enjoyed for some time.
For one thing the umpires’ weekly pitch marks revealed that Colin Maxwell’s wickets have been judged the best in the Premier League this season and that welcome acknowledgement of some very hard work was later extended to the whole ground, which was also rated the best in the top division of the Love Lane Liverpool Competition.
And as if to confirm S&B’s underlying strength, David Salt’s third team drew their home game against Liverpool on Sunday, a result that confirmed them as league champions.
Both achievements well on the Club.
It was not long ago that the pitches at Trafalgar Road were among the worst in the top division but Maxwell’s work has changed that situation in less than two years.
However, maintenance of the outfield is entrusted to Steve and Adam Phillips while the overall stewardship of Trafalgar Road outside the pavilion is the responsibility of Ground Chairman, Paul Parker.
This outstanding quartet, capably assisted by volunteers like George Ball, have made visiting S&B a pleasure over the past 18 months and their efforts have
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enormously also been noted by officials at Lancashire.
But the third team also had to work hard for their eventual success on Sunday evening.
Despite Jack Stanley taking four for 22 and Tom Crew three for 39, Liverpool made 158 in the first innings of the match between the title rivals and S&B’s chances of overhauling that total were more or less scuppered by the loss of three early wickets.
However, Ethan Howard made 37 and Stanley then blocked the life out of the game for 124 marvellous minutes before the task of securing the draw was left in the very capable hands of Peter and Tom Crew.
S&B finished the match on 73 for seven after 45 overs’ tense cricket which was a credit to both teams.
Much like Quintus Fabius Cunctator in the Second Punic War, Salt had adopted a defensive strategy on Sunday and it helped to secure a thoroughly deserved league title for his fine team and its shrewd, selfless skipper.
Celebrations of a different sort will be the order of this Bank Holiday weekend at Trafalgar Road when S&B holds its inaugural beer festival.
Over 30 different brews will be on offer in addition to a wide range of ciders, gins, proseccos and other drinks.
There will also be food available and admission to the event costs £5 per day, a price that includes the first drink.
Cricket will also be played over the weekend. On Friday evening a side representing the mental health charity Opening Up will be the visitors and on Monday the Southport 100 will take place, involving the town’s Liverpool Competition clubs.
On Sunday there will be a Rounders Tournament but the sporting centrepiece of the weekend will be the first team’s vital home game against Bootle, a match that could go a long way towards resolving the relegation battle at the bottom of the Premier League.