ST HELENS Recs suffered a heavy defeat at home to Colwyn Bay on Saturday.

After winning the toss captain Morrison elected to bat. Whatever hopes he may of had diminished quickly as the Colwyn Bay bowlers put the Recs men to the sword.

Only the experience of Huyton shone through as he reached a hard-earned 27 but this could not stop the wickets tumbling as Recs were dismissed for a disappointing 80 from 35 overs.

In reply the visitors reached 81-2 off 18 overs to win the game.

The 2nd XI travelled to Colwyn Bay but fared much better. The home side batted first but some excellent bowling by the Recs men on the hard track restricted the home side's scoring.

Colwyn Bay reached 173 all out off 48.3 overs with all the bowlers putting in good performances, the bowlers of note being Matty Aconley (3-31 off 13 overs), Galbraith (3-38 off 9.3 overs), Tarran (2-22 off 7 overs) and Howden (2-46 off 15 overs).

In reply the Recs batsmen enjoyed themselves on the flat track, losing an early wicket brought Lyon to the wicket with opener Ford. These two then produced a fine stand of 108 to take the score to 127 before Ford was out for 62, Lyon continued the good work, eventually finishing on 69 not out, and partnered by Tole (26 not out) passed the Colwyn Bay score reaching 174 for 2 with five overs to go. The 3rd SH XI visited Southport and were put into the field on a baking hot day. Mike Burrows bowled well finishing with 2 -33 off 12 overs but it was Roberts who stole the show with an excellent spell of bowling ending with figures of 4-34 off eight overs. Southport sportingly declared on 178 for 6 off 45 overs.

In reply Recs struggled until Leonard came to the wicket. Hitting a quickfire half-century, he put Recs back in the hunt, when he was dismissed for 52 Recs were still struggling at 114-6.

But this brought Stocks to the wicket. Both he and Chorley batted sensibly picking up the singles and hitting boundaries when opportunities arose as they put on a partnership of 66. Chorley finished with 33 not out and Stocks 32 not out as Recs reached 180-6 off 43.5 overs to win the game with two overs to spare.

The 3rd DG XI played hosts to Huyton, the only side to have beaten them this season. Huyton batted first but struggled against some tight bowling, Bellamy (3-14 off 6 overs) and Davies (4-49 off 16 overs) were the pick of the bowlers. Cooper (1- 0 off 0.3 overs) came on to dismiss the last man as Huyton crashed to 128 all out.

In reply Recs made hard work of the batting with Gibson reaching 20 but the tide was turned by Morrison who took charge and scored a fine 35. Davies came in at the end to reach 27 not out as Recs reached 129-7 with six overs to go to avenge the defeat earlier in the season.

On Sunday in the quarter final of the 3rd XI knockout Recs played hosts to a strong side from Oxton. Fielding first the Recs bowlers struggled in the heat against players clearly above their standard. Leonard came on at the end to produce figures of 3 -42 off seven overs but it was Mike Burrows who produced a marvellous spell of 5-23 off eight overs.

Staring a large total in the face the Recs fielders, in particular Gibson with two catches and a spectacular run out, kept their heads and managed to restrict Oxton to 216 for 9 off their allotted 40 overs.

In reply the Recs early batsmen committed hari kiri to leave the side on 83- 8 off 20 overs.

For the second day running Stocks and Chorley shared in a good partnership of 77 but the win was never on, Stocks finished with 36 not out but it was Chorley who produced a captains innings of 53 to enable Recs to reach a respectable 160-9 off the 40 overs as Oxton cruised into the semi-finals.

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