After sweeping aside most opponents, and shaking off the title challenges of Bootle, winners for the past two seasons, New Brighton and, latterly Wallasey, they have deserved their triumph. They have also overcome the pressure of leading the ECB Premier League since 4th June (match series 6 out of 22).

Delighted captain Phil Cooper, veteran of a youthful team, said: "The other three teams challenging have won the league at least twice each in the last 15 years, so to win it with those chasing us is a great achievement."

It was expected the title race would go to the last Saturday, but New Brighton's stubborn draw at Wadham Road handed it to Northern, who had a similar result at Wallasey. The Wirral side totalled 207 (53.1 overs) after losing the toss, Richie Conlan (58) and Craig Prince (46) the mainstays, Ian Butler taking 3-54.

Northern struggled to 18-3 and had lost five wickets for 98 before Carl Hey (53) and Stephen Cole added 44. Cole (44*) and brother James (8*) batted out time for the innings to end on 174-6 (47 overs). Northern's Jack Kelliher will miss next week's match after disputing an umpiring decision when given out lbw.

David Snellgrove (98*, 9x4s) carried his bat in Bootle's 193 (51.3 overs). Graham Lloyd hit 33, but Louis Botes shared the plaudits with a superb 5-72. New Brighton lost early wickets but Paul Strang (33) top scored as the home side's frustration mounted with the visitors holding on at 157-9 (Chris Sainsbury 3-33) after 57 overs.

Hightown and Northop Hall, relegation candidates for some weeks, saw the trap door finally open. Hightown's 115 (52.3 overs) was disappointing after winning the toss against Ormskirk at Sandy Lane, although Mike Taylor (4-28) and Matthew Leah (3-27) bowled well. To their credit, the home side battled back as the visitors lost three wickets in four balls and slumped to 55-6. Phil Unsworth's 30*, however, proved decisive in the one wicket win after being 108-9, despite Evon McInnis taking 5-79 and Ian Sutcliffe 3-22.

Karl Evans (65) and Tony Sparks (53) boosted Northop Hall to 201-6d from 50 overs against Leigh at Smithy Lane. However, they lost out as Steve Mullaney (82*, 10x4s, 1x6) and Luke Pomersbach (59*, 7x4s, 1x6) combined with a brilliant unbroken 151 for the fourth wicket that took the visitors to 202-3 after 44.5 overs.

It took Sefton Park 64.2 overs to reach 164 all out at Church Road, captain Howard Parker top scoring with 30, Jimmy Wisniewski taking 5-45. After being 63-2, Jimmy Wisniewski (53*) and Nick Knight (46*), took Lytham to an eight wicket victory, James Cain adding 36.

Steve Rimmer top scored for Fleetwood Hesketh at home to Huyton with 56 out of 151 (58.3 overs), Ashraf Nawab 4-46 and Waqas Chughtai 3-33. The visitors ended with 116-8 (49 overs), Lawrence Wilson (27) and Waqas Chughtai (20).

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