IN a top of the table clash between two previously unbeaten sides, it was Leigh Under 15's who triumphed against a good Sutton side in a close game at Beech Walk.

The visitors were invited to bat, and started fluently, despite an excellent opening five over spell from Ross Shepherd which conceded only 10 runs.

Finding scoring initially easier from the other end, Sutton reached 48 without loss in the tenth over, before Alex Roussak took a sharp close catch off Andrew Thomason. Leigh's fielders then continued to provide good support to their bowlers, as Roussak and Tim Edwards took control, leaving Sutton to finish on 90 for 4, aided by five penalty runs off the helmet in the final over. Thomason and Roussak each took two wickets, but this represented a solid overall team effort to keep the score below 100, after Sutton's good start.

The Leigh openers Roussak and Michael Waywell were made to struggle for runs by the visitors' tight opening attack, but importantly kept wickets intact, and despite only 10 runs from the first 5 overs, and a total 37 after 10, were perfectly placed to attack the bowling in the second half of the innings.

The visitors' confidence started to evaporate as both batsmen began to play their shots and plundered 46 runs from the next six overs, until an unfortunate run out saw Waywell dismissed for 32. A belligerent Thomason then scored 6 from two balls to put Leigh within 6 runs of victory with more than three overs remaining, before being caught off a mis-hit skier, but with a Leigh win in sight, Sutton's bowlers again tightened up, and it was left to Alex Roussak to lead the side home after two nervy overs, reaching a well-deserved 50 with a 4 off the second ball of the final over.

This was an excellent and well-earned win by a side now believing in themselves and playing with justified confidence.