CRICKET: Promotion for Northop Hall is secured!

Carwyn Johnson claimed a career best 6-23 as Northop Hall clinched promotion to the LDCC First Division on Saturday

LIVERPOOL AND DISTRICT CRICKET COMPETITION REPORTS

Saturday, September 6

1st XI Second Division

Caldy 1st XI (3) 48-10 Northop Hall 1st XI (25) 50-6

Congratulations to Northop Hall – promoted to the First Division for the 2026 season.

Sixteen wickets fell for less than 100 runs in Hall’s elevation-clinching victory on Saturday, a low-scoring encounter at Caldy.

The Wirral hosts chose to bat and were bowled out for 48 in just 23.3 overs, paceman Carwyn Johnson claiming a career-best 6-23 off 11.3 and Paul Jenkins scooping 4-19 off 12 to increase his league wickets tally for 2025 to 86.

Although Northop Hall made it to 50-6 in 18 overs, it was far from plain sailing for the visitors with no batsman making double figures.

Nonetheless, promotion is assured and the Hall will now battle it out with narrow leaders Ainsdale for the title over the last two matches.

Prestatyn 1st XI (3) 110-10 St Helens Town 1st XI (25) 111-4

Opting to bat first, Prestatyn were dismissed for 110, Kieron Tidswell top-scoring with 20, then St Helens eased to 111-4 off 21.4, home captain Adam Tidswell 3-44 to pass the 50 league wickets mark for the season.

1st XI ECB Premier League

Colwyn Bay 1st XI (5) 144-10 Newton-le-Willows 1st XI (25) 147-6

Bay lie 25 points adrift in the relegation zone with two matches left to save themselves.

The North Wales side, who returned to the Premier this season after winning the 2024 First Division title, travel to Rainhill this Saturday and then host Bootle in their final game on September 20.

They have to win both matches to stand any chance of staying up.

Bay lost a hard-fought contest at home to Newton le Willows on Saturday.

Winning the toss and electing to bat, the Penrhyn Avenue side were all back in the pavilion for 144, Matt Russell scoring 36 and Dan Russell 30, Jack Morley 5-44 and Dominic Chambers 4-28 for the visitors.

Newton got home on 147-6 off 38.2, Matt Russell 2-32, Sagar Trivedi 2-45 and Dulanjala Mendis 2-68, Chris Schofield best with 55 for the visitors.

2nd XI First Division

Liverpool 2nd XI (8) 139-8 Colwyn Bay 2nd XI (8) 232-10

Samuel Costley scored a remarkable career-highest 139 not out as promotion-chasing Colwyn Bay seconds came close to victory at Liverpool.

Costley totally dominated a Bay total of 232 all out, striking 21 fours and two sixes.

In reply, Liverpool clung on for the draw at 139-8, Sam Roberts 3-72. Bay remain bang on course for a return to the Premier.

Northop Hall 2nd XI (20) 135-10 Southport Trinity 2nd XI (7) 123-10

Northop Hall seconds kept their hopes of avoiding relegation alive by beating the only team below them in the table.

Put into bat, Hall were a dire 36-6 before number eight bat James Southern scored a match-turning 60, Liam Evans-Ford adding 30 as the hosts ended up 135 all out. Ewan Bennet took 7-30 for the visitors.

Sion Hellen then picked up 4-35, Liam Evans-Ford 3-25 and Robbie Edwards a miserly 2-11 off 10 as Hall sent Trinity packing for 123.