LL L&DCC 2ND XI Round up - Weeks 16 & 17 (two weeks ending 14 August)
Date: 22nd August 2021
PROMOTION for FLEETWOOD HESKETH
2nd XI Roundup – Weeks 16 & 17 covering 7th and 14th August
Little to report after only a handful of games escaped the persistent rain on week 16 so this roundup covers the last two weeks.
Not a good week for the top two in the Premier Division. Second placed Orrell RT could not take advantage of Wallasey’s slip up when they were beaten by a resurgent Firwood Bootle. Nicholas Gallimore with 61 and 51 from Joe Nagle helped the bottom club to pass 200 despite the best efforts of Orrell’s Gareth Houghton who claimed 5/73 (to follow up his 6/44 in the earlier clash between these two). Orrell started their reply badly, losing their first four wickets for just 24 before a one hundred run stand led by Stuart Craig’s 69 gave some hope. However the last six wickets fell for just 15. McGee with four wickets including Craigs. Newton le Willows successfully chased down leaders Wallasey 201 declaration. John Thistlethwaite led the way with an unbeaten 54 aided by 49 from Hughes and 42 from Ashcroft. Martin Williams was dismissed for 52 when well set and Rylance chipped in with 48.
Formby recorded a ten wicket victory over Sefton Park after dismissing the Croxteth Drive men for 115 thanks to 14 year old Archie Davies taking his second five wicket haul of the campaign (5 for 38). Three wickets for someone at the other end of his playing career Tony Rogan. Tom Simpson with a quickfire 66 and 47 from Jones to secure the win. A closer encounter at Northern where the home side secured a 12 run victory over Lytham. 72 from Paul Finnegan coming in at number nine was the difference helped by 44 from Michael Saunders as namesake Jack claimed his first five wicket haul in a thirteen year career as he finished with 7/46. After Matthew Cartmel was given out leg before for 64, his colleagues struggled to pass 26 as Thompson and Finnegan each took three wickets.
Ormskirk and especially New Brighton were defeated by the weather after the home side were dismissed for 102, Gamage with 4 wickets with Jones offering the resistance with 37. Sandalls had hit 28 before the rain ended the contest. Southport & Birkdale got the better of Liverpool by 26 runs, thanks to Tom Baybutt’s 54 despite the efforts of Mahesh Kajendran who claimed his first five for (5/41). Former old boy Sam Holliday then continued his recent good form with 4 / 46 as Liverpool were all out for 107. 37 from Stringer.
S&B also played catch up with two Sunday games rattling up 231 thanks to regular first teamer JJ Fielding hitting 87 helping Dave Aston score 74 and Jack Baybutt 53 no. Dave Whitely hit a solid unbeaten 77 but no -one else passed 29 for his Orrell side as Tom Baybutt took 4/61. A similar unfamiliar face as Basil Sultan’s 4 for 41 helped restrict Lytham in their attempt to chase down S&B score of 174 with Jack Baybutt (53) adding a second successive Sunday 50. Cartmell with another 55 for Lytham who ended up with their last pair at the crease to hold on for a draw.
Wallasey and Northern had been foiled by the rain the week previously with their game evenly poised with Northern well set at 67 for just one wicket in their attempts to chase down 195. Fifties for Joel Huston (64) and Matty Hughes 56. The only other game was Sefton Park’s attempt to play through the conditions against Firwood Bootle again with the visitors looking well set at 75 without loss. Leo Spilsbury with 52 and Aitchison 43 for the home side as Meskell claimed 4 for 48.
Standings 1 – Wallasey 327 points, 2 – Orrell RT 265, 3 – Formby 232 with five games to play (Wallasey require 63 points to claim the title).
Colwyn Bay are the new leaders of Division One thanks to winning their catch up game. A second successive unbeaten 52 from Oliver Pitman was sufficient to ensure that they overhaul an Old Xaverians total which could have been higher as the Xav’s middle order all reached 23 or 21 before falling. The previous Sunday, Colwyn Bay had a comfortable victory over Ainsdale thanks to Pitman’s 52 together with 71 from Tom Roberts who approaches 3000 play cricket runs. After a promising opening stand (Reid 32) reached 71 a flurry of wickets fell with five players failing to register as they found Matt Russell virtually unplayable as he took a career best of 6/20. Xaverians were the only other winners on the damp previous week making short work of dismissing Rainford cheaply with James Robson taking his career best of 7/22.
Birkenhead Park are in second place as they recorded an eight win over Wigan thanks to David Evans who wrapped up the tail as he took 5/40 despite an undefeated 72 from Matthew Shirley coming in at 26/4 who lacked any support. The four Park batsmen then all made significant contributions of at least 24 with Jordan on 39 at the end. The same amount of victory for Leigh who also featured their four batsmen scoring 26 or more after their bowlers had shared the wickets in dismissing nine man Highfield who had Martinus (41) to thank for setting a reasonable target.
Spring View returned from Northop Hall after successfully chasing down the very impressive batting performance from Northop’s openers who appear to have had a 200 run opening stand before 15 yo Evan Withe was dismissed for 67 leaving his partner Adam Littler unbeaten with his maiden century (114 no at the declaration). Sam Walker with 56 and Kieron James with 58 broke the back of the chase before Speakman 35 and Cooper edged the Wigan based side home. Daniel Webster bettered his six wicket performance in June with six for 28 to help his Wavertree side dismiss Ainsdale just after they passed three figures. Luke Bartley then hit 13 fours in his 61 off just 39 balls in an eight wicket win.
The ever reliable Andrew Harrison was in the wickets again as he claimed 6 Rainhill wickets for just 10 runs as they lost their last eight wickets for 13 runs enabling Rainford to record a 60 run victory. Ravi Mistry with 46 was the game’s highest scorer.
Standings 1 – Colwyn Bay 276 pts, 2 – Birkenhead Park 255, 3 – Leigh 245.
Congratulations to Fleetwood Hesketh as they confirm promotion to Division One as Maghull’s draw means they cannot finish outside of the top two. They and Southport Trinity continued to trade punches at the top of Division Two and gained some ground over Maghull.
Michael Roberti claimed 5 for 42 against Sutton St Helens as he followed up his seven wicket haul in the two team’s earlier clash in his sides victory. Will Marsh with an undefeated 53 to ensure the points after a rash of wickets left Sutton with some semblance of hope. Nolan with 41 the only real contributor for Sutton. Fleetwood’s bowlers were also too good for Hightown St Marys in a close copy to Trinity’s performance with Paul Mullen taking 6/34 (his sixth five wicket return of the campaign) as he closes on 50 wickets for the season. Modhi with 33 in a nine wicket win that was claimed within nine overs.
Sixties from Matthew Bean and Josh Byrne allowed Maghull to declare and set a near 200 target for Caldy. Although Grealis 33 and two others topped 20, there appeared little inclination other than to bat out for a draw against some determined bowling. Parkfield Liscard’s game with Norley Hall fell to an outbreak of Covid and no play was possible in the division on the previous rain affected Saturday.
Standings 1 – Fleetwood Hesketh 314 pts, 2 – Southport Trinity 240, 3 – Maghull 210.
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