LEIGH CC's recent run of disappointing results continued at Wallasey when they went down to an 18-run defeat against their bitter rivals.

Dave Dove's decision to insert the opposition after winning the toss looked fully justified as the seam bowlers got plenty of help from the conditions and had the home side in deep trouble at 50 for 5.

Only skipper Phil Luxon (20) looking anything like comfortable against accurate bowling by Ronnie Davis and Greg Jennings backed up by the in form Paul Vallance.

It was only when wicketkeeper Mark Wilkie came to the crease that that Wallasey's fortunes changed. His unorthodox strokeplay put his side back into the game as he scored boundaries off 11 of the 63 balls he faced in scoring 63 very valuable runs. He was eighth man out with the total on 142 caught by Steve Mullaney off the bowling of Jennings.

The innings was brought rapidly to a conclusion by Liam Zammit who took the last two wickets but Wallasey's all out score of 156 was more than they could have expected earlier in the afternoon. Jennings again bowled excellently to take 4 for 32 off his two six over spells with Vallance taking 2 for 32 and Zammit 3 for 38.

With conditions still favouring the seamers, Leigh made another disastrous start to their innings as the first four wickets fell for 24.

Zammit then joined Dove and decided that attack was the best policy as he powered his way to 29 out of a partnership of 33 off just 23 balls. With Dove soon following after scoring a gritty 19 off 70 balls and another wicket quickly falling, Leigh were spiralling to defeat at 66 for 7.

Davis then led a tremendous rearguard action as he scored a superb 56 not out to continue his return to form with the bat. He was given solid assistance by the tailenders but it was never going to be quite enough as Leigh were all out for 138 with eight overs of the game remaining. For Wallasey opening bowlers Thistlewaite (4 for 44) and Doggett (3 for 60) both bowled good long spells and were well supported by Strang (3 for 21).