THE superior batting strength of their rivals cost St Helens dear in two games at the weekend.

But the loss of Gareth Davies and Adam Friar, added to other long-term absentees, only topped up St Helens cup of woe this season.

In Saturday's league game Fleetwood Hesketh scored 201-6 from 56 overs with the best bowling coming from Ian Davies (2-63) and Darren Tyms (2-21). On the resumption Burrows (18), Tyms (27), Lowe (18) and Hull (23) gave St Helens a great start and a win looked likely at 109-2. The top five batsmen all fell to careless lofted shots and the rest of the side collapsed to 149 all out.

The big guns of Bootle did not fire with their usual efficiency in the cup on Sunday. But a score of 224 off 45 overs, thanks mainly to Australian Kelby Pickering who finished with 70 not out, proved too much for St Helens. Opening bowlers Gary Sheppard (0-13) and Paul Newman (2-32) bowled a tight spell but apart from Daniel Massey (2-32) the supporting bowlers could not contain the visitors.

Darren Tyms celebrated his birthday with 32 to add to his two wickets and Paul Newman ran out of partners with 32 not out in a score of 111 all out.

The second team almost managed a win at Fleetwood Hesketh in an exciting game and the draw kept them in second place in the table. At one stage St Helens were 80-1 but collapsed to 126 all out with the main contributors Craig Horrobin (41) and Ste Fell (43 not out). Excellent bowling kept the home side down to 105-9 thanks to M Bullock (4-45), M Kenny (2-21) and I McCabe (2-23).

This Saturday St Helens travel to Ruskin Drive with the second team playing the reverse fixture at Windleshaw Road.