WITH St Helens Recs' First XI match against Formby at Ruskin being rained off on Saturday it was up to the Second XI to provide the major cricket of the rain affected day.

Batting first Recs made good progress with Pilkington (22) but it was Tole and skipper Aconley who provided the runs. Aconley reached 53 before he was out but it was Tole who top scored with 54 which allowed Recs to reach a respectable, but slightly disappointing, 182 all out.

In reply Formby's innings was dogged by stoppages for rain which in turn made it difficult for the Recs bowlers. No bowler had great success as Formby reached 104-1 before the heavens opened again for the last time.

The match was abandoned but Recs took the points in this knockout match on a faster scoring rate.

The Third SH XI were away to Sefton RI on Saturday in a match which provided the most entertainment of the weekend.

Sefton were asked to bat first on a damp wicket and found runs hard to come by against the accuracy of the Recs bowlers.

They lost wickets at regular intervals. With the score at 116-8 off 54 overs tea was taken but coming out after the break it only took a couple of overs to dismiss the Sefton batsmen for a total of 123 all out.

Recs bowlers of note were Sharrock (3-31 off 18 overs), Stocks (2-15 off 9 overs), Chorley (2-27 off 10 overs) and Mike Burrows (2-45 off 19 overs).

John Burrows, behind the stumps, capped a fine performance with three catches.

On a wet pitch and with little time it looked unlikely that Recs could reach the target.

What followed was an awesome batting display by the openers Hull and Orford, plundering the attack to all parts of the ground all bowlers were treated with contempt as Recs reached 126-0 to win the game off only 12.2 overs (72 balls). Orford finished with 42 not out containing seven fours but it was Hull who was the star finishing with 81 not out containing six fours and six sixes, one off the last ball to finish the game. The Third DG XI played Maghull Four at Ruskin Drive. Again the conditions were not conductive to fast scoring and being asked to bat Recs found the going tough. With the score at 90-8 things looked bleak but last man Parsonage managed to lift the Recs spirits with a fine 24 which contained two mammoth sixes leaving Recs all out with the score on 133. As with the Second team the rain came down and the game had to be abandoned without the Maghull batsmen taking to the field.

This weekedn the First XI are at home to Hightown in the first league match of the season, the ball being sponsored by Mather and Stuart Plant Hire Services.

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