Liverpool Cricket Competition: Colwyn Bay need a positive result at rainhill

Liverpool and District Competition previews – Saturday, August 10

Fixtures

1st XI ECB Premier League
Rainhill v Colwyn Bay

1st XI First Division
Newton-le-Willows v Prestatyn
Northop Hall v Birkenhead Park

2nd XI Premier Division
Colwyn Bay v Sefton Park

2nd XI Second Division
Caldy v Northop Hall
Prestatyn v Hightown St Mary’s

1st XI ECB Premier League
Rainhill v Colwyn Bay

Improving Colwyn Bay need to build on some encouraging recent performances by getting a win at Rainhill which could lift them out of the bottom two.

Bay are currently 15 points adrift in the relegation zone.

Colwyn skipper Sion Morris said: “We go to Rainhill with some confidence after a few good showings over the last few weeks.

“It’s a game we can’t really afford to lose with them being just above us in the table and if we are to get out of our predicament then we really need to turn them over.

“It’s always tough there as it turns a bit and they have a decent overseas professional alongside Anuj Dal from Derbyshire and Luke Procter from Northants, so we’ll need to be at our best.”

1st XI First Division
Newton-le-Willows v Prestatyn

Third-from-bottom Prestatyn travel to second-place promotion chasers Newton-le-Willows aiming to build on last week’s emphatic victory over Fleetwood Hesketh at Beach Close.

The North Wales side are a handy 39 points clear of the relegation spots.

Only change for Prestatyn is Rhys Jones coming in for Ash Jones.

Skipper David Harris said: “We had a really pleasing team performance last week and want to just continue that form really. We have had great numbers at training with players turning out and being really keen to improve.

“Saturday will be a tough test again but hopefully we can keep building on each performance and get a positive result.”

1st XI First Division
Northop Hall v Birkenhead Park

Matty Dunning replaces the injured Ben Slater behind the stumps for Northop Hall, whilst Alex Smith returns to the side in place of Rohit Kaimal.

Director of Cricket Dave Kennedy said “We’re in a good spot at the moment (sixth) and ideally want to finish as high up the league as we can. We’re in among a cluster of clubs at the moment around that 200-point mark.

“At this stage of the season teams either finish strongly or fade away and we’d like to be very much in the finish strong camp.”

Northop Hall 2nd XI

A settled Hall seconds travel to Caldy on Saturday as the team look to remain on course for promotion back to the First Division at the first time of asking.

On Sunday, Hall seconds host Wavertree in the Tittershill Cup semi-final.

Matty and Ryan Dunning come into the side for the last-four clash against Liverpool opponents from the division above.

The Hall lost at the same stage last season to Sutton St Helens and will be looking to go one better this year to face division rivals Leigh CC in the final.