ST HELENS Recs travelled to Southport on Saturday and took maximum points from an impressive display. The home side, who won the toss and elected to bat first, were soon in trouble as paceman Garvey and partner Paul Ford ripped the heart out of the top order.

Southport never recovered and managed to limp to 115 all out from 38.3 overs.

Garvey was the star finishing with 6 for 52 taking his tally for the season past 50 wickets.

In reply Recs also got off to a shaky start, but Paul Ford steadied the innings and when he was dismissed for 31 the victory was virtually in the bag.

Lyon, who had partnered Ford, went on to top score finishing with 36 not out as Recs passed the Southport total reaching 116 for 6 from 38.5 overs to take maximum points.

The 2nd XI played hosts to top of the table Huyton who won the toss and put Recs in to bat after a delay for rain. Recs produced a poor batting display with only Gibson (17) in the top order making any runs.

With the score at 56 for 6 Recs looked down and out but stand in skipper Coulton steadied the ship, he scored 40 but could not stop his side being dismissed for 103 from 38.2 overs.

In reply the Huyton batting looked in all sorts of trouble against Howden and Coulton but they could not find an elusive edge until late in the game.

Coulton finished with 1 for 15 from 9.4 but it was Howden who produced an excellent spell of bowling finishing with 2 for 26 from 10 overs.

They could not prevent Huyton reaching 104 for 4 to win the game with two overs to spare.

The 3rd JP XI visited New Brighton KJ and winning the toss elected to bat first.

This looked to be a disastrous decision as Recs slumped to 10 for 4, Atherton restored some pride scoring 32 but with the score at 69 for 8 Recs looked dead and buried. The tail, with a combined age of 185, wagged and Parsonage and Houghton took the score to 101 for 9 before Houghton was run out going for a second run.

Ball came in and supported Parsonage who was the last man out for a brilliant knock of 44 as Recs were all out for 120 from 47.2 overs.

In reply the home batsmen struggled against the bowling of Parsonage and Atherton and were reduced to 18 for 3 from 13 overs before the rain came.

Parsonage finished with 2 for 5 from 6 overs and Atherton 1 for 10 from 7 overs but play could not be restarted and the match was abandoned.

Next week the 1st XI are at home to Worsley on Saturday the match being sponsored by Sparks Light and Sound.