RAINHILL CC have moved clear at the top of the Merseyside Cricket Competition. It's their strongest position since 1977.

Saturday's visitors, Old Xaverians were put into bat and made steady progess with the first five batsman making double figures.

But then Rainhill's Mattie Dale demolished the tail end to return excellent figures of 5-23-12.4 as Old Xaverians were bowled out for 121 off only 38.4 overs.

Nick Chapman whittled out the middle order taking 3-30 with Andy Lewis and Chris Wilson following up with one apiece.

Old Xaverians thought their luck was in when Rainhill were 19-3 but they didn't bank on wicket keeper Matthew Clifford who scored 25 valuable runs. That forged a partnership of 48 with Chris Carlisle who was unluckily run out on 41.

Phil Kelly, making his first team debut, scored an unbeaten17 and all-rounder Nick Chapman scored the winnings runs with 19 not out to made sure of an excellent five-wicket win for Rainhill.

The second XI won their first toss of the season and were confident enough to bat first. An opening partnership of 43 was formed between Ken Bold 29 and Dave Hawkins whowas unbeaten on 71.

Youngster Oliver Cashman made an excellent contributionof 15 as did Ian Kelly to enable to declare on 142 -5 off 50 overs which made sure of double batting points.

In reply Old Xaverians were up with the run ratebut as soon as Stuart Golding was out for an excellent 43, there was a tail end collapseand the final total was129 all out. Peter Swift returned 5-44. Ian Kelly bowled intelligently to take 3 -24 and under 15 player Colin Gannon took 1-25. On Sunday Whitefield showed Rainhill Sunday XI how to bat when L. Price was unbeaten on 64 as they amassed 160-7 off 42 overs.

In reply Captain Joe Crossley made 16 with Steve Gregory the batsman that was out next was the runner for most of his innings. Andrew Birkett tried to win the match but only managed 13 and Rainhill crumbled to 62 all out.

Rainhill now have their own website. You can find it at

www.rainhillrecclub.f9.co.uk/rainhillrecclub.htm