Cricket: Crown up for grabs; Liverpool Competition.

Byline: DAVID JONES 

ONE of the best seasons in years comes to a climax tomorrow with many teams harbouring title or promotion ambitions --and one or two contemplating the prospect of relegation.

You only have to look at the Liverpool Competition Premier League, where one of three sides - Wallasey, Firwood Bootle or Leigh - can win the title, while Sefton Park or Lytham look set to join Worsley through the trapdoor.

In the First Division, the scramble for promotion places has been intense in the past few weeks. Newton le Willows have made it, and are certain to be crowned champions tomorrow, but Colwyn Bay, Huyton and Hightown, are all in contention for the second place, with just four points separating them.

The spotlight, however, will be mainly focused on the events at Wadham Road, where leaders Wallasey (328) face third placed Bootle (312), while Leigh (315), lying second, visit Northop Hall.

If recent form is anything to go by, Leigh could emerge top, but that vital 13-point advantage Mike Beaver's men hold could be crucial.

For the Wallasey game, Ian Cockbain knows that both teams desperately need to win. ``There will be a result,'' he suggested. ``Leigh could easily beat Northop Hall; they are on a high so will be looking to take 24 points.''

A Bootle win, though, would only guarantee them the title if Leigh failed in North Wales but, assessing the past month, Cockbain admitted: ``We have been very poor. We have lost four out of the last five league games - and we have deserved to lose. We have just not performed well.''

Mike Beaver's men looked to be in control of the title destiny, until crashing to defeat at Leigh last week. Now it's crunch time.

Huyton meet bottom club Haydock, but nothing is guaranteed, while both their promotion rivals also face teams in the lower half of the division.

lThe Chelmere Trophy final on Sunday sees Wigan at home to Northern - a reverse of tomorrow's league fixture!

In the semis, Nikhil Haldipur played a key role in Wigan's win over Sefton Park, taking 3-24 in a total of 155-8. He then made 43 and, with Joe Taylor (66 not out), completed a seven wicket win.

Phil Unsworth was the star for Northern, who beat St Helens Recs by 41 runs. He top scored with 45 not out in their 155-8. Recs struggled in reply, Andrew Ford (65 not out) apart, and were dismissed for 114. Unsworth took 3-13 and Greg Dimery 3-29.

Tomorrow: Chelmere Homes Liverpool Competition Premier League: Firwood Bootle v Wallasey, Lytham v Ormskirk, Maghull v Sefton Park, Northern v Wigan, Northop Hall v Leigh, Worsley v New Brighton. First Division: Caldy v St Helens, Colwyn Bay v Formby, Hightown v Highfield, Huyton v Haydock, Liverpool v Southport, Newton le Willows v Fleetwood Hesketh, St Helens Recs v Orrell Red Triangle.

Sunday: Echo Knockout Final: Firwood Bootle v Leigh (12 noon). Chelmere Trophy Final: Wigan v Northern.