ST HELENS Recs twice suffered defeat at the weekend.

On Saturday they played hosts to Fleetwood Hesketh and batted first on a firm dry wicket.

Despite losing early wickets the middle order rallied with Martindale (38) and Lyon (21) and when these were dismissed the good work was carried on by Huyton and Wood. Huyton was eventually dismissed for 37 but Wood was there at the close finishing on 51 not out as Recs declared on 194-5 off 58 overs.

In reply Fleetwood started well but it was the introduction of the pace of Garvey and the spin of Freeman which caused the wickets to fall. Despite some free scoring Freeman (3 for 54 off 16 overs) and Garvey (4 for 76 off 14) chipped away at the wickets to leave an exciting finish as Fleetwood scraped home with one over to go reaching 195-8 off 47 overs. On Monday they travelled to Newton and winning the toss put the home side in to bat. All bowlers bowled tightly but wickets were hard to come by as Newton reached 213-2 off 53 overs. In reply Recs were in trouble at 9-2 but Sheeran and Ford steadied the innings putting on 63 for the third wicket before Sheeran was out for 33. Wood joined Ford and put on another 64 runs before Ford was dismissed for an excellent 64. With the score on 169 for 4 the game was finely poised as Recs continued the run chase, however Wood was controversially run out and the wickets tumbled leaving Recs all out for 179.

On Saturday the second team traveled to New Brighton and were betaen on the last ball of the game.

On Monday they tumbled to defeat at the hands of Ormskirk.

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