NEW Brighton with a little help from Fleetwood Hesketh went to the top of the Liverpool & District Competition Premier Division on another wet Saturday which claimed a number of matches.

The seasiders saw off visiting Bottle by five wickets with David While 5-25 and Andrew Clarke not out 70 well to the fore.

At the same time previous leaders Ormskirk were denied victory by the last Fleetwood pair and it led to a one point advantage for Brighton at the top.

Wallasey at Maghull and Birkenhead Park at Northern did not play and it was a similar situation for the local derby in Division Two between Parkfield Liscard and Birkenhead St Mary's.

Caldy took to the field for a five wickets success at Hightown in a low scoring affair.

Brynley Richards with 5-30 helped Caldy dismiss the Lancashire side for 88 and they replied with 89-5 of which Haroon Khan scored 51.

Oxton had ten runs to spare over Alderley Edge in the Premier Division of the Cheshire County League but Neston fell by four wickets at home to Toft.

Glen Queri struck a half century for Oxton and Gayan Fernando was best of the bowlers with 3-53.

Jack Smith 65 and David Hurst 48 tried hard for Neston but the Toft batsmen were too good on the day.

Irby (K.Pedi 78) enjoyed a two wickets home victory over Northwich in Division Two but Upton suffered an agonising two runs defeat against visiting Alvanley. Gary Dixon took 5-64 but none of the home batsmen really got going.

Ellesmere Port v Old Parkonians and Homes Chapel against Port Sunlight were called off in Division One of the Cheshire Alliance.

In Division Two Heaton Mersey Village conceeded against Tranmere Vics but Maritime got some play against Offerton and won by five wickets. Kanthasarny Vinothan starred with 63.

Scoreboard:

Liverpool Competition Premier Div:- New Brighton 138-5, Bootle 135; Maghull v Wallasey, Northern v Birkenhead Park - abandoned.

Div.Two:- Hightown 88, Caldy 89-5; Parkfield Liscard v Birkenhead St Mary's - abandoned.

Cheshire County League Premier Div:- Oxton 171-6dec, Alderley Edge 161; Neston 189-5dec, Toft 190-6.

Div.Two:- Irby 144-8, Northwich 142; Upton 117, Alvanley 119.

Cheshire Alliance Div.One:-Ellesmere Port v Old Parkonians, Holmes Chapel v Port Sunlight - abandoned. Div.Two:- Maritime 129-5, Offerton 127-9dec; Heaton Mersey Village conceeded v Tranmere Vics.

There are a couple of local derbies in the Liverpool Competition this coming Saturday.

Birkenhead Park welcome Wallasey in the Premier Division and Caldy have Birkenhead St Mary's as visitors in Division Two.

New Brighton in the Premier are due at Leigh whilst Parkfield Liscard in Division Two have home advantage over Alder.

Neston and Oxton are both on their travels in the Premier Division of the Cheshire County League to Alderley Edge and Nantwich respectively.

There are also away games in Division Two for Irby at Warrington and Upton at Weaverham.

Cheshire League fixtures include in Division One Old Parkonians v Wistaston Village and Port Sunlight v Ellesmere Port, in Division Two a Tranmere Vics v Maritime derby, and in Division Three Eastham Bromborough v Parkonians Seconds.

Wirral welcome Pott Shrigley in Division Three of the Cheshire League.