ST HELENS Recs were left to ponder on their missed chances as they drew with Colwyn Bay at Ruskin Drive on Saturday.

Winning the toss, skipper Morrison inserted the visitors on a slow wicket.

Runs were hard to come by and wickets fell at regular intervals as the Welshmen reached 96-7 off 40 overs.

However, the Recs bowlers were unable to finish off the job and Colwyn Bay laboured to 150-9 off 60 overs in three-and-a-half hours.

Pick of the bowlers were Freeman (6-53 off 24 overs), Potter (1-44) and Garvey (2-35).

In reply, Lyon and Woods gave Recs a fine start until Lyon was dismissed for 16 with the score on 40.

Woods went on to hit a fine 40. And, moving into the last 20 overs, Recs needed only 69 with eight wickets in hand.

Keane batted sensibly and with good support from Tole (15), the batsmen inched their way towards the target.

Fine bowling from Roberts and Barr restricted Recs and they still needed 25 from the last four overs. Some rash shots cost wickets, leaving Recs needing nine off the last over.

However, it was too much and Recs ended on 142-8 off 45 overs to draw the game.

Keane finished with 44 not out.

The third team SH, meanwhile, remain top of the league after beating New Brighton.

Stand-in skipper Chorley won the toss and elected to bat.

It proved a wise choice as Recs reached 182-5 off 41 overs, with notable contributions from Bond (72), Gregson (61) and Riley (22).

New Brighton batted stubbornly, but were finally all out thanks to fine bowling spells from Burrows (3-27), Chorley (4-21) and Tarran (2-6).

On Sunday the 3rd AD team were beaten by Formby in a low-scoring game.

Recs were all out for 76, with the only real resistance coming from Leonard (35 not out) and Taylor (20).

Formby passed the target for the loss of two wickets as the Recs bowlers styruggled with the wet ball.

This Saturday the first team are at Northern, with the ball sponsored by Exel Logistics.

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