MEMOREX Leigh suffered a weekend of double disappointment as they narrowly lost out to Wallasey in their attempt to win the league championship and were beaten at Bootle in the final of the Liverpool Echo knockout competition.

The Liverpool Competition ECB Premier League title went to Wallasey despite the two teams finishing level on points.

Leigh started the day 13 points behind Wallasy as they travelled to Smithy Lane for a tricky match against Northop Hall who were respectably placed fifth in the league having been unbeaten at home since the first game of the season. They elected to bat first on a dry and dusty wicket and found progress extremely difficult against accurate bowling from left arm medium paced Dave Powell and Pakistani test off-spinner Arshad Khan.

They struggled to 56 for 5 off 35 overs before Gareth Cross (27) and Dave Potter (26) managed to increase the scoring rate. They helped the score towards 111 all out off 54 overs after Khan had bowled throughout the innings to claim 6 for 39 off 27 overs with Powell having taken 3 for 27.

The home side's batsmen also found life difficult as they were reduced to 34 for 6 and only Sparks and Roberts with 22 runs each put up much resistance as they were bundled out for 81. The best bowler was spinner Chris Melia with 5 for 21 off 14 overs with Jo Angel and Dave Potter picking up two wickets apiece as Leigh gained 20 points for their tremedous victory.

Players and supporters waited after the game for news from Wallasey's match at Bootle which ended in a draw with Wallasey's 7 bonus points being enough to gain them the title and send the Leigh contingent home disappointed. After playing tremendously positive and skilful cricket throughout the season the Beech Walk side can however be justifiably proud of achieving their highest ever position in their seven seasons in the Liverpool Competition.

The unusual format of the Liverpool Echo knockout final is a two innings game of 20 overs per innings and Bootle won the toss at Wadham Road and elected to bat first. Their match winner was the powerful Cheshire batsman Richard Hignett who scored 63 out of 126 for 6 in the first innings and 85 n.o. out of 134 for 3 in the second. Leigh totalled 106 for 7 (Davis 28, Cross 24) and 103 all out (Andy Mullaney 26) and their 51 run defeat again left them empty handed at the end of a fascinating season's cricket.