A WEEKEND of mixed fortune saw Owens Corning St Helens Recs reach the semi-finals of the Liverpool Echo KO after a riveting game at Bootle and then go down to Northern at Ruskin on Saturday.

Having disposed of one of the Echo KO favourites Sefton, Friday saw Recs travel to play another of the favoured sides, Bootle. Batting first the Bootle opening batsmen of Bean and Cockbain got off to a dream start and after only two overs the home side were 22-0.

The third over saw Cockbain push his luck too far when he charged down the wicket to Scott Williams and was well caught by Ian Huyton at gully.

If Huyton's excellent catch set the fielding standard, Neil Hill's direct hit to get rid of Bean surpassed it.

From the bowling of Tarran, John Hitchmough drove into the covers. Such was the ferocity of the shot that both batsmen set off for a run but Hull, having no real right to stop the ball, not only fielded it but spotted Bean struggling to get back and promptly uprooted the middle stump.

Williams (4-22) and Tarran (2-23) then proceeded to put Recs well and truly into the driving seat as they decimated the middle order which included former Recs overseas player Adam Warren, as the home side were reduced from 38-3 to 56-8. Jamie Keggin held the Bootle innings together with a gritty 23 as Recs change bowlers of Stephen Garvey (2-16) and Shaun Murray bowled the home side out in the last over of their 20 for 93. In reply Williams looked a class above anything else on the field as he and Hitchmough put on 24 for the first wicket before Williams was caught by Pike off the bowling of Cockbain for 15. Hitchmough's demise for 14 promoted a Recs collapse and from 43-3 the Ruskin side lost three wickets without adding to the score. Terry Keane and Mike Tarran then joined forces and slowly pulled the Recs innings around with some sensible batting although at 58-6 in the 13th they appeared to have a mountain to climb. Keane (16 not out) and Tarran continued to pick up runs and with two overs remaining took the score to 83. Having taken the score to 90 before the final Mike Tarran (20 not out) deservedly hit the first ball of the last over to the boundary and Recs celebrated a famous win.

Steve Martindale was the toast of the under 18s side as he scored an undefeated century in his side's victory over Sutton under 18s. Under 15s players Malone and Tasker starred in their victory over Orrell, Malone scoring 60 and Tasker taking 2-17.

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