New Brighton announce place in this year’s title chase race

Jun 18 2008 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

CONSISTENCY is a key ingredient for any side seriously considering themselves as title contenders.

In the early part of the season, New Brighton looked anything but as they lost three of their opening six games.

But six straight wins later and they have certainly announced their intentions.

The Wirral side’s sixth came in a straightforward success at St Helens Recs, where Martyn Evans took 7-20 (8.4 overs) as the home side were dismissed for 115 (Anthony Bullick 57), in reply to New Brighton’s 220-6 declared (53.5). Evans contributed 52 of them and Paul Hale 60.

What made it all the sweeter was the fact that leading Business Assistance Liverpool Competition Premier League title contenders Firwood Bootle, Ormskirk and Northern, all lost and New Brighton have closed the gap at the top to 23 points.

Northern lost by five wickets at Wallasey, collapsing from 103-1 to 159 (46.3) after electing to bat. Michael Johnson hit 60 and Jack Boardman 41. Spinner Neil Clarkson (5-56) and Chris Bourne (4-37) did the damage.

Nick Woods (3-62) hit back but Ben Parker (56 not out) and Charlie Boucher (36) saw the Wirral side home.

Meanwhile in the ECB Premier Division of the The Right Move Abroad Cheshire County League, Alderley recorded their sixth success in nine at bottom club Heaton Mersey.

Their attack was strengthened by the inclusion of Lancashire fast bowler Oliver Newby, who claimed 3-38 along with Sohail Rauf 4-33.

But the pair found it impossible to dismiss Mersey’s Australian batsman Brenton McDonald, who contributed an unbeaten 105 to his side’s declared tally of 179-9.

Alderley Edge had the game won inside 36 overs after tea thanks to former Lancashire batsman Mark Currie scoring an unbeaten 97 and Sohail Rauf 43.

A fine innings of 91 not out by opener Roger Wilkinson helped Bowdon win by five wickets at Toft, who they had restricted to 168-9.

Oulton Park recorded a five wicket win at Macclesfield, who were bowled out for 151.

Danny Leech continued his recent brilliant form with an unbeaten 86 as Oulton replied with 153-5.

A fine innings of 100 out of 217 by Australian batsman Josh Farmer saw Hyde win by 35 runs at Chester Boughton Hall.

A hard-hitting knock of 70 by Richard Hignett, top scored for his side in a winning draw against Neston at Beaconsfield Road in Widnes’ 225 all out.

Neston replying with 202-9, Gerald Lea-Swaine 43 not out, Stan Clifford 41, Lee Dixon 35.

Urmston had the better of a high-scoring draw at Nantwich after posting a best of the day 253-7, Craig Grindley 57, Chris Watson 52, Adam Landry 46.

Nantwich had their last pair together at stumps at 221-9, after sound efforts from Chris Simpson 53 and Marc Debrabender 49, while Indian paceman Ashwin Punja returned 5-69.

Elsewhere, Birkenhead Park secured their second league win of the season at home against Cheadle last Saturday.

Cheadle elected to bat and got off to a good start with Greg Dixon, 41, and were at one point 78 for 1. But a sharp run out by Chris Foran and some excellent spin bowling from Tom Hunter 3 for 19 and Zia Ur Rehman 4 for 42 restricted Cheadle to 157 all out.

In response, Park got off to an excellent start and were 104 for 1 off 18 overs with positive batting from T Hunter 34 and A Gibson 44. A couple of quick wickets soon followed but Ian Platt 12 and Jon Crofton 21 saw Park home.