FORMBY SURVIVE; RAINFORD DIVISION 1 CHAMPIONS; WAVERTREE PROMOTED AS SPRING VIEW FOILED BY RAINSTORM
Date: 16th September 2017
S+B and Ainsdale return to Division 1; Highfield join Rainford in Premier; Spring View desperately unlucky.
WEEK 22 Results by clicking on RESULTS above
An L&DCC exclusive by our special correspondent
A Weekend Round-up starting with a hard luck story to beat most other hard luck stories. At the start of the day just one point separated Spring View and Wavertree in the race to gain promotion from DIVISION 2 to Division 1. By mid-afternoon it was clear that Wavertree, having bowled Alder out for 106 were well on their way to collecting 25 points meaning that Spring View needed a 25 pointer to remain one point ahead and promotion. They too successfully bowled out their opposition, Northop Hall, for 118 and as the afternoon drew on were making steady progress. Then when 21 runs were needed to win with four wickets left and just as the Dower House faithful were beginning to believe – the heavens opened - with rain described by the players as “biblical”. (See picture) Not surprisingly the game was abandoned and Wavertree join Liverpool in Division 1.
Meanwhile the fight to stay in the PREMIER DIVISION was taking place across Wales, St Helens and Crosby where Ainsdale were early victims of Northern to send them to Division 1. Southport and Birkdale were making a real go of it at Colwyn Bay posting 190 for 5 and declaring just as Formby were bowling Rainhill out for 121. Formby then knocked off the runs for the loss of two wickets to ensure their club have another year in the top flight. S+B’s brave fight ended when Colwyn Bay reached their total losing just five wickets.
With promotion to the Premier Division guaranteed for Rainford and Highfield, both sides were playing for the DIVISION 1 Champions title. Highfield wasted no time in dismissing already relegated Skelmersdale for 35 before knocking them off without loss. Not to be outdone Rainford bowled Prestatyn out for 86 and posted a win by the same 10 wicket margin to claim the title.
A Round up of 2nd and 3rd X1 Division winners will appear shortly.
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