LIVERPOOL Competition Premier League title hopes for New Brighton virtually disappeared as they were held to a draw at Northern whilst leaders Ormskirk won.

Martyn Evans (70), Louis Botes (66) and Upal Fernando (42) helped the seasiders to 268-5 but Northern closed on 128-7. All-rounder Evans finished with 5-22.

Wallasey versus Leigh was amongst the weather casualties but Birkenhead Park played and defeated Rainhill by 17 runs. Rob Houghton took 5-63 and Chris Stenhouse 4-43.

An undefeated 61 from Brynley Richards ensured a six wickets Division Two success for Caldy against visiting Burscough. Dave Kay and Harry Daniel-Jones took three wickets each.

There was no start in the Spring View v Parkfield Liscard clash. Birkenhead St Mary's did play against Alder and lost but then were awarded the match as Alder fielded an unregistered player.

Zaighum Abbas with 4-50 and Usman Khushnood with 3-36 helped restrict Alder to 162 but the Saints were all out for 93.

Neston figured in a tense draw at home to Marple in the Premier Division of the Cheshire County League.

David Hurst (52) and Richard Wilkinson (46no) helped Neston to 197-6 declared. Chris Finnegan claimed 3-21 as Marple closed on 196-7.

Oxton crashed by 195 runs at Bramhall.

They were doing well enough until an unbeaten sixth wicket partnership of 223 took the home side to a 290-5 declated total. The visitors were all out 95. Gayan Fernando claimed 4-77 for the losers.

The Upton v Poynton match was off Port Sunlight cruised to a six wickets home win over Stretton in Division One of the Cheshire Alliance.

Old Parkonians fell by 85 runs at Wilmslow where they were dismissed for 98 and Ellesmere port went under by 26 runs at home to Glazeberry.

Tranmere Vics had 41 runs to spare at Frodsham in Division Two.

Russ Williams 4-11 and Mike Hooks 3-8 helped Eastham and Bromborough to an easy nine wickets victry over Appleton II in Division Three.

Scores:

Liverpool Competition Premier Div:- Northern 128-7, New Brighton 268-5dec; Birkenhead Park 152, Rainhill 135; Wallasey v Leigh abandoned.

Div.Two:- Caldy 124-4, Burscough 123; Birkenhead St Mary's 93, Alder 162 - Birkenhead awarded game; Spring View v Parkfield Liscard abandoned.

Cheshire County League Premier Div:- Bramhall 290-5dec, Oxton 95; Neston 197-6dec, Marple 196-7.

Div.Two:- Heaton Mersey v Irby - details awaited; Upton v Poynton abandoned.

Cheshire Alliance Div.One:- Port Sunlight 202-4, Stretton 201-9dec; Wilmslow 183-8dec, Old Parkonians 98; Ellesmere Port 102, Glazeberry 128.

Div.Two:- Frodsham 104, Tranmere Vics 145; Rylands v Maritime - details awaited. Div.Three:- Eastham & Bromborough 61-1, Appleton II 60.

The penultimate league matches of the season are scheduled for this Saturday.

Liverpool Competition Premier Div:- Lytham v Wallasey; New Brighton v Birkenhead Park. Div.Two:- Hightown v Birkenhead St Mary's; Old Xaverians v Caldy; Parkfield Liscard v Prestatyn.

Cheshire County League Premier Div:- Oxton v Neston.Div.Two:- Irby v Tattenhall; Bredbury St Marks v Upton.

Cheshire Alliance Div.One:- Old Parkonians v Holmes Cjapel; Saughall v Ellesmere Port; The Grives v Port Sunlight. Div.Two:- Maritime v Frodsham; Tranmere Vics v Audlem. Div.Three:- Kerridge v Eastham and Bromborough.

Cheshire League Div.Three:- Winsford v Wirral.