03321

The weekend's matches
Friday 9th July 2010

This weekend sees the last matches of the first half of the league season. Leaders Lytham, to some the 'Young Pretenders', could go a step further towards stealing Bootle's crown with a win on their trip to Wadham Road. Although being the form team of the moment with eight wins from ten starts, Lytham have won just twice in ten visits and both of these, in 2003 and 2005, were by 1 wicket whilst their worst defeat, by 160 runs, came in 2007.

Highfield, currently in second place and the surprise packet of the season, visit Ormskirk who came unstuck at Colwyn Bay last week but both teams will have one eye on their respective ECB Club Championship group finals twenty four hours later (see below).

Northern, Ormskirk's visitors on Sunday, hope to improve on their position of eighth by defeating Prestatyn, who are firmly entrenched at the foot of the table with 39 points, 36 adrift of their nearest rivals, Wallasey, who have won on three of their last four visits to Hightown.

Colwyn Bay skittled New Brighton for just 82 on their last visit to Rake Lane so tomorrow's match could be tense with the Bay winning five of their last six matches this season and the Rakers three in succession.

Newton le Willows, bowled out for 88 by Northern last week, cross into the Principality to meet Northop Hall, who had Lytham waiting 66 overs before their last wicket fell.

The 1st XI matches this weekend are as follows. Start time 1:00 pm.