Bay let their opponents off hook.

Byline: MIKE McEVOY

AUSSIE ace Nathan Rimmington grabbed 6-40 off 25 overs but it wasn't enough to give third-placed Colwyn Bay the desired win over New Brighton, one place above them.

Bay let their rivals off the hook by again spilling two expensive catches and relaxing their concentration at a crucial stage in the field.

This allowed New Brighton, who won the toss and chose to bat, to post an enhanced total of 159 off 50 overs, with Mark Thompson (38) and Louis Botes (30) after a much lower score had seemed probable.

Spinner Paul Jenkins added 4-60 off 16 overs to his prolific tally but the loss of an hour's play that delayed the start, proved a big impediment.

Bay skipper Graeme Jones said: "It left us with too little time to get the runs and although we gave it a go we ended up just 24 runs short of another win."

As long as Sion Morris remained out in the middle the victory was always on, but the loss of cheap wickets after opener Charlie Clubb had gone for 30 left Morris ploughing a lone furrow as he cracked 69no in the total of 136-5 off only 38 available overs.

"Sion batted very well again but we had a poor spell after tea and allowed the initiative to slip from our grasp," added Jones.

"It was an exciting game with some good aspects but we had hoped for a higher points return that could have taken us over New Brighton and up to second spot again.

"We fairly hammered them at their place but this time they were more alert and ended up scoring 20 or 30 more runs than they should have and that was enough to change the outcome."

Bay collected seven points to New Brighton's five.

CAPTION(S):

Colwyn Bay bowler Paul Jenkins