NESTON went to the top of the Cheshire County League Premier Division with a 97 runs success over their closest rivals Chester Broughton Hall at Parkgate.

The home side batted first after winning the toss and posted 242-8. Will Evans led the way with 80 and David Hurst contributed 59.

Andrew Clarke then helped restrict the visitors to 145 with a 5-52 haul.

Oxton are third in the table 90 points behind Neston. In their latest outing they saw off Macclesfield by 63 runs.

Martyn Evans played a key role with 83 and 3-48. Simon Stokes 64 and Gayan Fernando 3-35 were others to do well.

The two local sides lost in the Premier Division of the Liverpool and District Competition.

Mark Hale made an unbeaten 43 for New Brighton who fell by 108 runs at Bootle.

An excellent display by Neil Cross with 82 and 6-34 could not save Wallasey against Lytham.

The visitors had 27 runs to spare. Chris Bourne finished with 4-35 for the losers.

Birkenhead Park have a 19 points advantage at the top of Division One after a 64 runs win over Liverpool.

Rob Houghton made an undefeated 68 and Chris Stenhouse shone with the ball with an 8-77 haul off 23.2 overs.

Parkfield Liscard remain in trouble at the bottom after losing by 116 runs at Rainford. Faisal Ashraf 47 and Kamran Hussein 4-77 did their best.

Birkenhead St Mary’s managed a draw at Sutton in Division Two. Arfan Khalid hit 54.

Oliver Higgs scored 40 for Caldy who went under by seven wickets at home to Spring View.

Upton came away five wickets to the good from Prestbury in Division One of the Cheshire League.

Wirral sneaked home by one wicket at The Groves in Division Three. Andy Slight starred with 43 and 3-33.

Ellesmere Port (Gareth Boys 62) beat Haslington by 28 runs in Division One of the Cheshire Alliance.

Old Parkonians fell by five wickets at Glazebury. Skipper for the day Chris Beckett scored an unbeaten 76 and Will Walker 52.

Tranmere Vics who are third in Division Two enjoyed a 36 runs victory at the expense of Bowdon Vale.

Fixtures for this Saturday include: Liverpool Competition Premier Div: Ormskirk v New Brighton; Wallasey v Leigh. Div One: Birkenhead Park v Colwyn Bay; Newton le Willows v Parkfield Liscard. Div Two: Caldy v Burscough; St Helens Town v Birkenhead St Mary’s.

Cheshire County League Premier Div: Didsbury v Oxton; Bowdon v Neston. Div Two: Congleton v Irby.

Cheshire League Div One: Upton v Cheshire County Officers. Div Three: Wirral v Winsford.

Cheshire Alliance Div One: Old Parkonians v Ellesmere Port. Div Two: Mossley v Tranmere Vics; Port Sunlight v Heaton Mersey.

There was also a full Liverpool Competition programme on Bank Holiday Monday. The local derby between New Brighton and Wallasey ended in a draw with the last Brighton pair holding out.

Scoreboard Bank Holiday Monday:

Liverpool Competition Premier Div: New Brighton 185-9 (A Ghaus 59, A Nawab 5-61), Wallasey 220-9dec (M.Wilcox 57).

Div One: Orrell Red Triangle 105-3, Birkenhead Park 103; Rainhill 192-6dec, Parkfield Liscard 86.

Div Two: Birkenhead St Mary’s 159 (M Ghafoor 49), Sefton Park 160-5 (S Black 4-38); Prestatyn 276-4dec, Caldy 178-9 (J Groot 58, A Stewart 43).

Saturday:

Liverpool Competition Premier Div: Bootle 245-3dec, New Brighton 137; Wallasey 157, Lytham 184. Div One: Birkenhead Park 225-8dec, Liverpool 161; Rainford 214, Parkfield Liscard 98. Div Two: Caldy 112, Spring View 118-3; Sutton 246-6dec, Birkenhead St Mary’s 154-8.

Cheshire County League Premier Div: Neston 242-8dec, Chester Broughton Hall 145; Oxton 233, Macclesfield 170. Div Two: Irby v Poynton – result awaited.

Cheshire League Div One: Prestbury 158, Upton 162-5. Div Three: The Groves 155-8dec, Wirral 158-9.

Cheshire Alliance Div One: Ellesmere Port 198, Haslington 170; Glazebury 176-5, Old Parkonians 175. Div Two: Frodsham v Port Sunlight – result awaited; Tranmere Vics 175-8dec, Bowdon Vale 139.