ST HELENS Recs suffered a one-wicket defeat in a tense, low-scoring game at Ruskin Drive on Saturday.

Visitors Orrell won the toss and invited Recs to bat on a a damp wicket. This decision soon reaped dividends as the home side could not put any meaningful partnerships together with only Martindale (13), Wood (17) and Garvey (18) troubling the scorer much.

Recs had reached 54-4 but suffered a dramatic collapse and were eventually dismissed for 86 from 36.5 overs.

Orrell looked to be romping home reaching 5-3, with Garvey taking 2-20-5 overs.

The brakes were applied by the spin combination of Freeman and Martindale as the Orrell batsmen started to struggle.

Needing 10 runs with four wickets remaining the visitors should have cruised in but panic set in as the wickets tumbled. In a nail-biting finish Orrell needed two runs to win with only one wicket left.

The Orrell last man lofted one just over the head of mid on off Freeman to win the game by just one wicket.

Freeman bowled well finishing with 2 -25-7.1, but it was Martindale who gave Recs a chance of an unlikely victory finishing with 5-26-7 overs.

The Second XI were beaten at Worsley, falling just 14 runs short of victory The Third DG XI played hosts to Oxton and produced a fine batting display. Recs openers Gibson and Chorley put on 130 for the opening stand with Gibson being the first to go for 45. Chorley was eventually dismissed for a fine 88 as Recs allowed themselves the luxury of declaring on 184-3 from 45 overs.

In reply, Hoghton opened the bowling and immediately removed the opener with only his second delivery caught behind. This set the tone for the innings as the Oxton batsmen never got going. Healey produced a fine display behind the wickets taking four catches to add to his 30 runs with the bat. Oxton eventually succumbed as Howden finished with five wickets, the visitors only reaching 120 all out to give the Recs men a much needed win.

On Sunday the Third JP XI travelled across the road to St Helens who put Recs in to bat. This appeared to be a good decision as Recs were reduced to 33-6 as Jordan and Sheppard ripped through the top order. For the second day running Chorley had a good day with the bat, firstly he was supported by Dunbar (27) to take the score to 96 for 7, then he was partnered by Burrows (23) to take the score to 176 for 8. In a wicked twist of fate Sheppard removed the last three batsmen in successive balls over the space of two overs which left opener Chorley stranded on 98 not out as Recs were 184 all out for 50.1 overs.

In reply St Helens always struggled against the pace of Howden and especially Filson. With few overs to reach the target a win was never on the cards for the home side. Howden finished with 2 for 43 from 12 overs but it was the fiery pace of Filson that was the downfall of the home side as they had reached 64-4 with only nine overs left. Bowling with experience beyond his years he ripped through the tail order removing the last two batsmen in the final over of the game as St Helens finished on 100 all out from 33.3 overs.

This Saturday the First XI are at home to Huyton.