ST HELENS Recs suffered a heavy defeat at Bolton on Saturday.

After winning the toss, stand-in captain Wood put the home side in to bat. Garvey bowled well early on finishing with figures of 2 -42 off 15 overs and with the spin of Potter taking 2-16 off eight overs Bolton were in trouble at 90-5.

But slack bowling let the home side back into the game as the sixth wicket put on a further 60 runs and by the time the home side declared the score had reached 200-7 off 59 overs.

In reply, Recs made a good start with debutant Ford and Ericson putting on 40 for the opening wicket before Ericson fell.

Martindale shared in another good stand with Ford taking the score to 75 before both were dismissed in quick succession, Ford for 22 and Martindale for 33.

As the game entered the final 20 overs Recs needed 110 with five wickets remaining. But the tail could not produce the runs as Wells and Nawab each took five wickets leaving Recs all out for a very disappointing 110.

The 2nd XI played hosts to in-form Sefton who batted first. The Recs bowlers could not stop the visitors free scoring as the runs were piled on.

Murray returned the best figures with 1- 22 off nine overs. Sefton declared on 185-4 off 45 overs.

In reply Recs lost early wickets and defeat looked inevitable with the score on 13 for 4 but captain Aconley and Gregson managed to stop the rot. Gregson was dismissed for 26 and Aconley 33 but enough time had been used to avoid defeat as Recs settled for a draw, managing to reach 105-7 off 49 overs.

The 3rd SH XI played hosts to Sefton RI and with both sides being severely depleted Recs asked the visitors to bat.

On a slow wicket the runs came painfully slowly as Sefton inched their way towards a total with all the Recs bowlers performing well.

When the breakthrough came wickets tumbled, Pye (2-30 off 12 overs) and Wills ( 2-11 off nine overs) bowled well but Leonard did the damage with 3-11 off five overs. This, combined with some excellent fielding, Filson taking two magnificent catches, forced Sefton into declaring on 144-8 off a mammoth 60 overs.

In reply Recs were left with little time to reach the total and proceeded to throw away wickets with some rash shots. This meant that Pye was forced into an unaccustomed defensive role and by the end of the game Recs had reached only 41-8 off 36 overs with the extras top scoring with 12 to draw the game.

The 3rd DG XI traveled to Maghull with another depleted side. Batting first Gibson continued his good form but could only watch as he lost his partners. With the score on 28-3 Sharrock strode to the wicket to join Gibson and produced another hard hitting innings.

These two took the score up to 79 but both were out in quick succession, Gibson for 31 and Sharrock for 39. The rest of the batsmen could not sustain this effort and Recs were all out for 89 off 39 overs. In reply Recs made a game of it with Sharrock producing an outstanding display, bowling unbroken from one end for the entire innings

. At the other end he was ably supported by Cooper (1-18 off 7.5 overs) and Swain (2-13 of seven overs).

But not even Sharrock with 3-29 off 19 overs could stop Maghull passing the score, reaching 90 for 6 off 37.5 overs.

This Saturday the 1st XI are at home to Fleetwood Hesketh, the sponsors being Sparks Light and Sound and Dentons Green Post Office.

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