ST HELENS Recs defeated Lytham with just 10 balls to spare at baking Ruskin Drive on Saturday.

Batting first, Lytham made a good start and had reached 135-1 before the Recs bowlers took control.

The visitors tried to speed up the run rate and it was this which provided their downfall as Faul and Freeman got to grips with the middle order.

Using his pace on the hard wicket Faul finished with fine figures of 3-35 off 12 overs but it was the spin of Freeman which stole the show ending with 4-26 off 10 overs.

This ensured that Lytham were restricted to declaring on 197-9 from 50 overs. In reply Recs lost two early wickets before Tole joined opener Martindale at the wicket. These two put on 71 for the third wicket reaching 92 before Tole was dismissed for 40, Martindale stayed at the crease batting superbly in the heat before he was eventually dismissed for a superb 78.

There was a flurry of wickets and with the score on 165- 7 the match looked finely balanced but the nerve of Garvey (17 not out) and Freeman (17 not out) held as Recs passed the score with 10 balls to spare reaching 198-7 off 48.2 overs.

The 2nd XI travelled to Lytham and played on another hard wicket. Batting first Recs plundered the attack with Ford being the first man out for 28 but the momentum was not lost as Sheeran joined Aconley at the wicket. Aconley reached 55 before he was dismissed as Recs had reached 114 but Sheeran kept going eventually being out for 47. Pilkington (31) continued the attack and with Murray scoring 20 not out off only six balls Recs sportingly declared on 201-6 off only 43 overs. In reply the Recs bowlers found the pitch hard going as the Lytham batsmen also enjoyed themselves. Galbraith (2-28 off nine overs) and Anders (2-29 off seven overs) were the pick of the bowlers but they could not stop Lytham passing the score with two overs to go reaching 203- 6 off 43 overs.

The 3rd DG XI played hosts to Oxton and batting first Gibson and Fargher put on a stand of 61 for the opening wicket before Gibson was dismissed for 25. Fargher went on to reach 38 before he was out which then prompted a major collapse as Recs reached a precarious 117-8 but this brought together the hard-hitting Sharrock and Pye. Smashing the ball to all parts of the ground these two big men put on 54 in only five overs before Sharrock was caught on the boundary for a quick 32. When Pye was the last man out for 22 Recs had reached a much more respectable 172 all out of 39.4 overs. In reply the Oxton batsmen never got to grips with any of the bowlers and all returned excellent figures but it was Parsonage (3-19 off 10 overs) and Wills (3-7 off nine overs) who ripped the heart out of the visitors. By the time Roberts (2 for 1 off 1.1 overs) came on to remove the last two men Oxton had crumbled to an embarrassing 49 all out off 32.1 overs enabling the Recs men to continue their promotion charge.

On Sunday the 3rd SH travelled over the road to play St. Helens at Windleshaw Road. Batting first the home side were always in trouble against some fast and accurate bowling and Burrows, on his return from tour in Barbados, returned excellent figures of 4 for 18 off 11 overs. Joined by the spin of Bellamy (2 for 24 off 11 overs) St. Helens were reeling on 64 for 7 before the lightning started all round the ground. Play was called to a halt and when the rain came play had to be abandoned for the day leaving the Ruskin men cursing as another victory slipped from their grasp.

This weekend the 1st XI are at local rivals St. Helens on Saturday, the sponsors being Mather and Stuart Plant Hire and the Duke of Cambridge pub.

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