THE two division system in the Merseyside Competition seems to be encouraging safety first rather than positive cricket as Sutton suffered again on Saturday.

Port Sunlight won the toss and for the third week in a row Sutton were faced with a 200-plus total to chase.

On a perfect wicket, Sunlight plundered the lightweight Sutton attack for 212-3 in spite of early successes for Ian Greener and Kieron Barr.

Sutton put up another spirited show with the bat without much hope of victory, but at least clinched maximum batting points by reaching 186-7 in the overs they were allowed. Phil Kelly was again the anchor-man and Martin Harvey cracked a top class 36.

A thunderous 60 by big Phil Jukes backed up by Barr's 25 ensured Sutton some reward but Sunlight were only ever interested in avoiding defeat a trend which appears to be on the increase.

In return at New Street the second string of Sunlight were equally disinterested. Sutton skipper Jeff Pye declared at a reasonable 160-6 with classy knocks of 70 by John Lawton and 50 by Luke Tunstall the mainstay. Ste Wearden chipped in with 25 as Sutton gave the visitors plenty of time to chase. After twenty overs the Port batsmen had scaled the heights at 21-1 and continued on their weary way to 130-6 at stumps in a game best forgotten. Sutton claimed the lions share of the points with good bowling by Ste Greener, Stu Rimmer and Roy Grice worthy of mention.

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