TODAY'S PREMIER DIVISION ROUND-UP
A fine spell of hostile fast bowling from Scott Lees set Ormskirk on their way to a seven-wicket win at Formby.
Lees found some challenging bounce to leave the hosts 17/3, then returned later alongside Afghan spinner Zahir Shehzad to roll the last seven wickets for 32 runs.
Only a counter-punching stand of 77 between Ollie Sutton and Jackson Darkes-Sutcliffe offered any real resistance - one Darkes-Sutcliffe became the first of Shehzad's four victims, the rest went quick.
Lees held a return catch from Sutton on 74 to wrap up the innings and leave his side a chase of 127 - they never looked in danger of surrendering the advantage, thanks to George Politis's classy and composed 52*.
The biggest winners of the day were Wallasey; having stretched their advantage at the top with a win over New Brighton on Friday, they sat back and watched their two nearest rivals lose.
Northern posted 221/7 at Newton-le-Willows and quickly reduced them to 23/2 - but Rizwan Haider and Ben Walkden knocked off the rest of the runs with a stand of exactly 200. Pakistani first-class veteran Haider finished with 122 and Lancashire prospect Walkden 87 - their side now have four wins from their first seven games.
Wigan remain third, but suffered defeat at the hands of Leigh thanks to an unbeaten 101 from former Lancashire man Luis Reece. He and Derbyshire team-mate Mattie McKiernan put on 131 together as the visitors chased 203 with eight wickets to spare.
Orrell Red Triangle's Richard Everett hit a century in their win over Southport & Birkdale; and Rainhill and Birkenhead Park had to settle for a draw.
COLOUR AND QUOTES FROM FORMBY V ORMSKIRK PLUS A FULL ROUND-UP ON ALL THREE DIVISIONS IN TUESDAY'S ECHO
