No comments on the batting as we were bowled out for less than 100 and a game to forget. Two league games left now and only maximum points in each will see us over the finishing line ahead of last years champions New Brighton.

Well you can guess last Saturday’s result was no great surprise either. Bootle again losing the toss to Cullen’s side and were put into bat first. Michael Gill showed what a class act at 2nd team level he is by hitting an unbeaten 104. Both he and brother Andy put on 103 for the 5th wicket. Bootle finally declared on 199 for 4 off 45 overs. We just narrowly missed out on a further batting bonus point.

The Wigan response faltered and they ended up on 170-9 in 48 overs. Both Andy Gill and Billy Smith taking 3 wickets each. Our friends Formby did us a favour in turning over New Brighton at Rake Lane in the surprise result of the day. This enabled us to extend our lead at the top of the table to 19 points. Fleetwood Hesketh are the next league match at home.

Southport Trinity – we won comfortably with Eccles scoring 55 not out. Next round is at home against ether Maghull or Orrell Red Triangle.

Sefton started pretty much the way we left off with Wylie hitting a quick fire 50 as Sefton looked to be in control. Taking the pace off the ball with Smith and Pike in tandem saw the Sefton lads falter. Pike taking 5 for 51 in a bowling spell that brought back the years.

The game was looking to be heading for a draw when Ehlen 3 for 7 & Gallagher taking the important wicket of Ted Williams, saw us home. Sefton ending up 188 all out in 52.1 overs.

Bootle 2’s taking 25 points and securing their 9th win of the season.

For most of the early afternoon it looked increasingly unlikely that we would get a game started due to the constant light rain that was falling. At 3.45pm we took to the field due to the rain ceasing and after winning the toss New Brighton were asked to bat first.

At 38 for 2 on a dry wicket the came Hughes who went onto to score an emphatic 73 as New Brighton posted a formidable total of 177 for 5 inside of 35 overs.

New Brighton then proceeded to take wickets on what now had become a helpful wicket due to rain throughout there innings. Andy Evans ending up with 9 wickets in the game with 7 Bootle batsmen being bowled. We were bowled out for 90 inside 28 overs.

A very disappointing end to winning run. We still remain 17 points ahead at the top of the table and questions will be asked of the players now for the rest of the season. A poor performance which can not and will not be accepted again if we are to regain the league title.

Ormskirk we eventually dismissed for 152 in 49 overs. Not enough on a good wicket.

Shillcock maintained his consistent run by chasing a wider one than last week and was caught behind for a blob. Innings of 26 from Ehlen, Eccles 35, Radford 25 and stalwart effort of 20 from Andy Gill at the end saw us home in 35 overs.

This was the ninth straight win and the defeat of New Brighton at Northern means that the 2nd team move 39 points clear at the top of the table.

After winning the toss we stuck them into to bat on what looked like a very decent batting track as usual. Andy Gill often in the one’s this year finally got to turn his arm over and returned a match winning performance of 8 for 46. Only Virdee of Lytham making any sort of resistance with a fine 53.

Lytham posted a low score for the wicket at 111 all out in just 33 overs. Lytham now braving the brief light rain shower during tea and early innings made a good start pegging us back to 4 for 2 as both openers fell cheaply. Skipper Ehlen out for a duck having hit the ground and being caught behind. (Unsure when that law came into force!!!)

Then entered Mikey Gill (37no) and Adam Burton (71no) who took us home in just 26 overs. Burtons knock was certainly the highlight of the day even surpassing the 8 for 46 of Gill.

That win now takes us 20 points clear at the top of the table and extends the winning sequence of games to 8.

A great game at cricket path last Saturday as Formby put up a brave fight on home soil. Batting first on what looked a bowler friendly wicket we found ourselves at 30-3 with the weak Formby attack springing a few early surprises. Then came the middle order stand of over a hundred from Mears (59) & Eccles (42) which enabled us to post a total of 189 all out in 44 overs.

Formby started well in reply and even though they had a frequent fall of wickets they maintained there scoring rate and with batsmen 8&9 at the crease they look to be on there way to reaching there target. Alas they didn’t as we bowled them for 184 and took 24pts. Good effort lads on what became a very flat wicket in the end.

We bowled Northop out cheaply with the wickets shared amongst the bowlers.

A good performance – keep it going boys!!!

Getting to 120 for 3 the rain came down and threatened to spoil the game but the Gill twins (happy & dopey) returned to the wicket to make hay whilst the sun shone. Young Michael again looking in great nick with a solid 66 not out and Old Andrew departing on 47 before the innings closed at 204 for 4 in just 34 overs. (The captain was declaring before his 50 anyway!!!).

The Southport innings never really got going and stuttered along the way. A very good opening spell of 3-17 from young Molloy showed that we potentially have a genuine quick bowler within our midst at last. Billy Smith move over!!!

It would only be fair to say that ‘Me Me Me Smith’ did eventually bowl in his own selfish fashion and wrapped up the Southport innings taking 4 for 8. Well done boys!

Again we are asked to bat first to which stand in skipper Davies must have thought that was a huge mistake as the two openers raced to 52 off just 7 overs.

With the light drizzle coming down for most of the Bootle innings the Northern lads stuck well to there task in the field.

The introduction of Derbyshire saw the two openers depart in short time of each other and then proceeded to take 5 for 45 in difficult conditions.

Some hard hitting by Arkle in the end saw us declare on 45 overs for the first time this year at 166 for 9.

With the rain ceasing through the tea interval the state of the game changed a little. The boys stuck to there task well throughout the Northern innings and we ended up bowling them out for 144.

Both young Billy and old Gally taking three wickets each. The winning run continues.

We tried to get off to a start but were pegged back by some tidy Wallasey bowling and managed to declare the innings on 143-9 (50 overs).

No doubt about the batting performances here with Roger and Mikey Gill sharing a solid stand in the middle of the innings. Young Arkle making a contribution at the end of the innings.

Wallasey started brightly in the second innings with Carruthers hitting hard (nothing cultured) in the early stages. He gave his wicket away again trying to hit the ball out of the ground.

The stream of wickets started to fall then with Wallasey being bowled out 90. Skipper Ehlo pegging the Wallasey middle order back with an effective seam display and ending up with 4-13 off just 8 overs.

Back to back wins and signs that the momentum required to win the league is starting to come through.

After Liverpool skipper John Crossley won the toss he asked us to take first knock. A decision he must have regretted as the two openers put on 49 for the first wicket off just 6 overs. Ehlo taking a great liking to the opening bowlers he dispatched them to the boundary 9 times in his knock of 38. A missed chance for a bigger score.

Michael Gill continued to hold the innings together and hit a solid 51 to help us reach 166 all out. A disappointing total but a better performance from the lads.

The Liverpool innings got off to bad start when they lost the Liverpool skipper to the 2nd ball of the game playing on to a quick ball from young Arkle. Again another steady and effective opening spell from the youngster who had several experienced players hopping around the crease. A great sight to see!

It would be wrong not to mention the spin twins who demolished the Liverpool order, with Billy Smith taking 4 for 7 and Saul Heard 3 for 31. It would be fair to say Saul bought Billy’s wickets.

Well done boys – its going in the right direction keep it going!

We then came to the batting or the attempted Bootle innings. Enough said!

It would be unfair to say that Leigh did not bowl well, because they did, but so many players getting bowled in any innings was quite alarming. A bad afternoon at the office and lets see if we can get a full days work out of the boys next week when we play Liverpool at home.