ECCLESTON suffered another disappointing weekends cricket.

The first team entertained newcomers Glazenbury in the North West Counties League, and after winning the toss skipper Matthews decided to put faith in the batsmen who had failed to impress so far by batting first.

Openers Matthews (11) and Conffer (14), however, got off to a pitifully slow start albeit hampered by a tremendously slow, lush outfield and by the time they were both back in the pavilion the score was a depressing 33/2 in the 19th over.

A couple of quick wickets fell as the rest of the batsmen tried to move the score along and give the bowlers something to defend.

Ernie Benbow (33) and Trevor Rogers (25 no) put together a fine 60 partnership to take the score to 120/7 at the close, not a big score but one Eccleston felt they could defend.

Opening bowlers Ikin (2/33) and Burrows (1/5) gave the team the best possible start and had Glazenbury in all sorts of difficulties and at the 19 over stage Glazenbury were a comparable 29/2. There then came some missed opportunities as several very difficult catches were put down, and in a thrilling, tense finish Glazenbury got home with just two balls to spare for the loss of seven wickets. Matthews 2/16 and Ashurst 1/27 the other wicket takers.

At Warrington the seconds fared little better, but at least the batsmen did much better than of late.

Captain and opener Tony Roberts scored a superb 53. K Holden (17) P Lynan (15) and A Valentine (11) the other batsmen who helped the score along to 134.

For once the bowlers failed to make any real inroads into the opposition and Glazenbury reached the required target for the loss of just four wickets.

Lynan (1/29) Valentine (1/13) and Holden (1/24) the only wicket takers.

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