PRESTWICH were left licking their wounds as rival professional Ryan Nurse scythed through their top order to halt their climb up the league table.

It compounded a disappointing weekend that also saw The Heys ground side drop out of the Lancashire Cup after Sunday's defeat at Wallassey.

But it was Saturday's league defeat at home to title rivals Denton St Lawrence (DSL) that was felt most.

The West Indian quickie produced a stunning display, grabbing 7-45, as he led DSL to a seven-wicket victory.

Prestwich's plight could have been worse had it not been for a quite majestic innings of 56 from youngster Mike Hudson.

At 38-6, he stood defiant in the face of some testing bowling to ensure there was no complete rollover.

A stubborn rearguard action reaped nearly another 100 runs, and put the home side back in with a shout when they finished on 136.

Four frontline batsmen fell to Nurse yorkers, and at one stage he had figures of 5-11 off 10 overs.

Indeed, it was a yorker which finally undid the efforts of Hudson.

But until then, his presence had the visitors edgy, as he defended solidly and attacked with aplomb, crashing 11 fours and reaching his half century in just 61 balls.

In light of the quality of bowling, it was an innings to savour and DSL were relieved to see the end of the progressive youngster.

Then, after a bright 13 from Chris Humphreys, a dogged last wicket partnership of 29 between Andy Bradley (16) and 15-year-old Oliver Holt (7 not out) gave the home bowlers a target to defend as the visitors hit the crease.

With Craig Duxbury injured, Prestwich suffered a blow before they could step back out onto the field.

But two early strikes by Bradley and Humphreys in removing both DSL openers gave the home side just the start they needed.

When Humphreys deceived the talented Scott Kirwin for 26 with the score on 65, a sniff of victory was still in the air.

But with the prolific big hitter Steve Dublin at the crease, the odds still looked in the visitors' favour.

He was kept relatively subdued at the start, surviving a couple of edgy shots, before opening up and cracking an unbeaten 65 to ultimately coast past the target.

The result meant DSL leapfrogged over Prestwich into second place.

On Sunday, a weakened Prestwich side put up a valiant effort in the Lancashire Cup, failing by five runs to overhaul Wallasey.

Without Duxbury or wicketkeeper Ian Walker, who was on league representative duty, the side bowled very tidily to restrict the Liverpool Combination rivals to a total of 157.

Holt led the wicket-taking honours with 3 for 33, Humphreys 2 for 25, Bradley 2 for 23, Imran Mirza 2 for 18 and Steven Lorenzini 1 for 37. Matty Walsh was the only one not to pick up a wicket but bowled economically, conceding 14 runs off his five overs.

Wicketkeeper Gareth Barnes, standing in for Walker, was outstanding behind the stumps, taking two excellent catches, and giving away no byes.

Prestwich reached 28 for 0 in just six overs, when rain forced a brief disruption and could well have helped the home side make the important breakthrough.

Steve Davies was adjudged l.b.w. first ball back after the rain, and Hudson, having struck another couple of scintillating drives in his 21, fell in similar circumstances, while Imran Mirza was smartly snapped up by Ashton at square leg.

At 57 for 3, Lorenzini, another youngster showing excellent recent form, took up the leading mantle with a mix of well-run singles and aggresiveness.

Together with David Fitzmaurice (14), the score moved to 81 but then his wicket brought about a mini-collapse which changed the face of the game.

Skipper Orrell and Humphreys were both dismissed for 0, and the score looked frail at 83 for 6. Barnes dug in to repair the damage with a determined 13 and Walsh's 14 including a six onto the roadway.

The dismissal of Lorenzini for a sweetly-struck 42, who fell to a well-taken catch by the bowler Murphy, diminished Prestwich's chances.

However, after Holt had struck three textbook twos, 12 runs were needed off the last over with Bradley on strike.

He got two runs each of the first three balls, but then was caught at point as he tried for the winning hit.

A century from Jon O'Connor paved the way for a comfortable victory by Prestwich 2nd XI at DSL, while the 3rd XI recorded a much-needed triumph against Blackley, with Gupta top scoring with 65.