DIVISION One title contenders Higher Bebington RBL secured their passage to the league's Challenge Cup third-round after they pulled the mat from under fellow Division One outfit MSC Eastham.

Victor Thurgill and Aaron Doyle both bagged hat tricks, and were joined on the scoresheet by Gary Squibb, Aaron Buckley and Perry Taylor, as Legion romped home 9-1. Richie Phoenix claimed Eastham's consolation.

Arch rivals Bebington were also in goal hungry mood and celebrated a 7-2 win against Division Two promotion contenders Port Sunlight, highlighted by a fine hat-trick from Martin Egan.

Further efforts from Chris Ballard (2) Stuart Hardman and Carl Smith completed the statistics.

Julian Gorbutt was another hat-trick star who shone for Greave in their 4-0 success against Forum Athletic.

Andy Wilson was the other scorer, while Shaun Salmon, Joe Unsworth and Jamie Lawrence plundered a goal apiece, as Bromborough put paid to Wirral Athletic.

Dave Herd replied for Wirral in Sunday's 3-1 defeat.

A high-scoring contest between Division One promotion chasers,Lever Bushell Athletic And Bromborough Social was settled 5-3 in Levers' favour thanks to efforts from Paul Johnston, Dave Taylor, Adam Corless,Chris Georgeson and Jack Taylor.

In the Premier Division, an entertaining tussle between Shore Villa and Riverside finished 1-1 with young Tom Morgan on target for Villa.

Another closely fought contest took place in Division Two, as promotion chasing Gladstone Athletic and Bronze Social locked horns at Plymyard.

In a game which could have gone either way, it was Gladstone who bagged maximum spoils after Grant Fowler scored the game's only goal via the penalty spot.

Key Division One fixtures this weekend include Bebington's clash with Forum Athletic And Higher Bebington RBL's trip to erratic performers Wallasey Athletic Town.