ST HELENS Recs gave top-of-the-table Worsley a real run for their money on Saturday.

Losing the toss, the home side were asked to bat first on a good but slow track and found scoring difficult. Keane and Lyon took the score to 68-3 before Keane was dismissed for 28.

Lyon stayed at the crease but when he was out for a steady 57 the score was on 98-5 and Recs looked as if they might capitulate.

Garvey and Potter (26) then put on a partnership of 47 before Potter was dismissed but not before tea had been taken.

Garvey stayed at the crease and reached a brilliant 50 not out allowing Recs to declare on 197-7 off a massive 63 overs.

In reply the Worsley openers Pedrola and Howarth set about the bowling and produced an opening stand of 129 off 23 overs before Garvey was brought into the attack to remove the dangerous Pedrola clean bowled.

The run chase was now on but when Howarth was out for 48 the rest of the Worsley middle order could not keep up the high scoring rate against some tight bowling, Faul finished with figures of 2-33 off 10 overs but it was the bowling of Garvey, showing that he is a true all rounder, which stole the show finishing with figures of 5 -32 off nine overs as Worsley finished on 184-7 off 38 overs, 13 runs short of the target. The 2nd XI visited Wallasey and were asked to bat by the home side. Only Ford (20) could master the bowling early on as wickets tumbled leaving the Recs on 64-6. Matty Aconley then came to the wicket and proceeded to score the rest of the runs for Recs but when he was out for a fine 33 Recs had only reached 97 all out from 38 overs.

In reply Wallasey never looked in trouble except against Recs man of the match Aconley who finished with figures of 3 -31 off 8.2 overs but he could not stop the home side reaching 99-4 off 30 overs to win the game.

The 3rd SH entertained Leigh at Ruskin Drive and asked the visitors to bat on a seaming wicket. For the second week running Murray was the star bowler, producing excellent figures of 5 for 42 off 18 overs as Leigh sportingly declared on 156-9 from 49 overs.

In reply Recs got off to a good start and had reached 72-3 going into the last 20 overs but when Stocks was out for 22 the middle order collapsed under the pressure of the run chase. It was left to Chorley to score a quickfire 20 to put Recs back in the game but when he was dismissed the rest of the batsmen fell leaving Recs on 134 all out giving Leigh a shock win.

On Sunday the 3rd DG played hosts to Fleetwood Hesketh and elected to bat first. This looked to be a fine decision as Davies and Gibson put on 124 for the second wicket in quick time but when Gibson fell for 53 the Ruskin men lost their way. When Davies was out for 54 the only other batsman who could produce some attacking shots was Burrows who hit 24 leaving captain Gibson no option but to declare on 181 for 8 off 52 overs. In reply Recs got off to a good start taking two quick wickets, one an excellent direct hit run out from Critchley but two dropped catches proved to be vital. Some big hitting from the visitors put them in the driving seat with only 60 runs needed from the final 20 overs but Pye (2 for 43 off 9 overs) tied the batsmen down at a vital time. The reintroduction of Wills gave some hope as he took two quick wickets finishing with figures of 3 -48 off 10.2 overs but he could not stop Fleetwood reaching 182-7 with 6 overs to spare.

This weekend the 1st XI are at home to Lytham on Saturday, the sponsors being Ste Fenney Milkman, Tapas Bar and Gardecor Painters and Decorators.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.