RAINHILL CC strolled to a comfortable success at Tranmere Victoria on Saturday.

Peter Mercer led the onslaught with an agressive 63, scoring nine fours and two sixes to forge a partnership of 75 with Captain Mike Rotheram (23). Professional Paul Robinson was equally forthcoming in scoring a quickfire 30 with two fours and a six which enabled Rainhill to declare on 150-5 off only 33.5 overs to gain maximum bonus points.

In reply, Tranmere Victoria were all out for 119 with Paul Robinson returning excellent figures of 5-27 off 17.3 overs. Nick Chapman took two more and there were three run outs.

Meanwhile at Victoria Terrace, the second team put the visitors into bat and Rainhill bowled them out for 125 at 50 oversthat gave them maximum bowling points. Captain Mark Candeland took three catches behind the stumps and also stumped the second highest scorer. Paul O'Connellremoved the openers totake 3-30. Youngster Mark Ford followed up with 3-14 and Andy Birkett finished Tranmere Vics off with 4 -32. In reply the 2nd XI made steady progress with a marathon 29 from Ken Bold who was cruelly run out by his runner. Phil Atherton was in form again to score a valuable 29 but it wasn't quite enough and so ended on 103-8 making it a draw.

The Sunday XI were up against a strong batting side of Chorlton Wayfarers and their opener Chris Harries proved it with an entertaining unbeaten century of 104 for them to finish on 194-4. Not much reward for the Rainhill bowlers but experience showed through for Andy Birkett to compile a hard grafting unbeaten 54 without scoring a boundary. Ian Kelly also chipped in with a 25 as did Steve Palmer with 12 and we just hung on for a draw at 101-9.