NESTON face a tough battle to avoid relegation from the Premier Division of the Cheshire County League.

A ninth reverse at the weekend sees them bottom of the table eight points behind Marple and a dozen behind Grappenhall.

Dom Smith with 48 helped Neston post 162 against Cheadle, but it was not enough as the visitors eased to a five wickets win.

An outstanding performance by Gayan Fernando helped Oxton to an 18-runs success at Urmston in Division One. The all-rounder scored 59 and claimed 7-88. Shaaiq Choudry was also a big contributor with top score of 68.

Upton comfortably took the Division Two derby at Irby by seven wickets. They are third in the table with Irby 35 points adrift at the foot.

Greg Shillinglaw contributed 43 for the losers. Best for the winners were James Williams with 52 and Gary Dixon 6-22.

The tussle for the Liverpool Competition Premier League title is hotting up.

New Brighton returned to winning ways by 25 runs at Lytham but have only a five points lead at the top over Ormskirk.

The race looks to be between them with Northern well behind in third.

Key players for the seasiders were Upal Fernando 50, Ashraf Nawab 5-43 and David While 4-28. Birkenhead Park lost by two wickets at Rainhill where Khalid Wahbi top scored with 35 and Ian Daniel returned 4-59.

Wallasey fell by three wickets at home to Northern and find themselves propping up the division. Jack Leckey 32, Dan Beaver 31 and Chris Bourne 4-26 did their best.

The misery continued for Birkenhead St Mary's in Division Two.

They were asked to bat first by visiting Spring View and were back in the pavilion after just 13.3 overs with just 24 runs on the board. Spring View won by ten wickets.

Parkfield Liscard secured a useful two wickets win over Burscough. Sadrey Depieza 6-50 and Barrie White 30 were the main contributors.

Caldy had to settle for a draw at Orrell Red Triangle and are second bottom in the division 25 points adrift of safety. Birkenhead St Mary's prop up the table.

Tranmere Vics (Tejpal Singh 6-50) lost by 76 runs at Stalybridge St Pauls in Division One of the Cheshire Alliance.

Old Parklnians in Division Two went under by five wickets at home to Rylands despite totalling 202 (Chris Hitchell 68, Ben Rees 35).

Wirral had 83 runs to spare at Winsford in Division Three of the Cheshire League. Key men were Dan Holder 67, Andy Slight 55, Kieran Morris 5-26 and Dave Fletcher 4-39.

Scores ...

  • Liverpool Competition Premier Div: Lytham 131, New Brighton 156; Wallasey 120, Northern 125-7; Rainhill 129-8, Birkenhead Park 128.
  • Div Two: Orrell Red Triangle 272-7dec, Caldy 135-8; Parkfield Liscard 153-8, Burscough 149; Birkenhead St Mary's 24, Spring View 25-0.
  • Cheshire County League Premier Div: Neston 162, Cheadle 163-5; Div.One:- Urmston 180, Oxton 198-8dec. Div.Two: Irby 108, Upton 109-3.
  • Cheshire Alliance Div.One: Stalybridge St Pauls 172,Tranmere Vics 96. Div.Two:- Old Parkonians 202, Ryalnds 203-5.
  • Cheshire League Div Three: Winsford 88, Wirral 171.

Matches this Saturday include ...

  • Liverpool Competition Premier Div: Birkenhead Park v Ormskirk, New Brighton v Rainhill, Southport & Birkdale v Wallasey. Div Two: Caldy v Birkenhead St Mary's, Old Xaverians v Parkfield Liscard.
  • Cheshire County League Premier Div: Neston v Chester Broughton Hall. Div One: Oxton v Weaverham. Div Two: Irby v Warrington, Upton v Northwich.
  • Cheshire Alliance Div One: Tranmere Vics v Stretton. Div Two: Frodsham v Eastham & Bromborough, Maritime v Styal, Old Parkonians v Knutsford.
  • Cheshire League Div Three: Langley v Wirral, Over Peover v Port Sunlight.