Cricket: Tough for Bay at Bootle.

Byline: Mike McEvoy

TITLE hopefuls Colwyn Bay crashed to defeat at the hands of champions Bootle in the opening clash of their Liverpool Competition Premier Division campaign, writes Mike McEvoy.

Rained off the previous week the ambitious seasiders were left chasing Bootle's testing total of 222-9 declared. Stephen Parry top-scored with 98 as Charlie Clubb took 4-35 off just under 10Bay overs, but in reply the visitors were never at the races and were all out for 103 in the 38th over.

Prestatyn's first completed match in the Business Assistance Liverpool Competition Premier Division ended in a six-wicket defeat at Southport and Birkdale.

After winning the toss and batting, the visitors were all out for a more than respectable 208 in the 44th over.

In reply, Southport and Birkdale did not lose their first wicket until the score reached 98 and they eventually got home with 16 balls to spare on 211-4.

Northop Hall coasted to a second consecutive 20-0 points triumph as they added hosts Huyton to their heady opening day scalping of Newton le Willows.

Fielding a side with five local boys aged 17 or under, the under-strength Hall had Huyton groping from the start as they dipped to 27-5 before being dismissed for 76, professional Attur Rehman 6-32, including three wickets in one over, and new skipper Danny Nolan 4-11 doing the damage.

Hall's opening partnership of Alex Smith (56 no) and Alistair Roberts (18 no) steered Hall to a winning 78-0 in the 28th over. "It was another tremendous result," said Nolan.