RAINFORD were forced to settle for a draw at home to Halsall on Saturday.

On a wicket that was a tribute to head groundsman Ian Harrison, Rainford mustered a modest 163 from their allotted overs.

This was largely due to an innings of quality from overseas star Troy Martyn who stroked 64 runs in only 20 overs before being run out.

Dalrymple carried on the good work, with two mighty sixes taking Rainford past the 100 mark, he was eventually dismissed for 39 hitting across the line once too often.

With the score on 115 and still 20 overs remaining Williams and Gallagher were set to take Rainford to a big total. However the innings fizzled out.

In reply, Halsall were never able to get in a serious blow at the Rainford total. Opening bowlers Frodsham and Martyn never gave an inch, with the former wiping out the top order taking 4/30 in a long spell.

Martyn was the perfect foil for the aggressive Frodsham. Halsall eventually reached 140/6 by the close, but Rainford must have been left thinking what might have been in only Williams had held on to a simple catch off the bowling of Corden to dismiss Molyneux without scoring as the Halsall man saved his side with an unbeaten 64.

The 2nd XI, decimated by unavailability and first team call ups, put in a brave show at promotion hopefuls Eccleston (Chorley).

Batting first the Rainford side were reduced to 2/2 before John Brookes slammed a run a ball 75 to steady the ship, while at the other end captain Phil Curran played the sheet anchor role to perfection to make 39.

At 162/5 a charge to the double hundred looked on but amazingly the remainder of Rainford's batsmen failed to trouble the scorer and the innings folded without any addition to the score.

Eccleston then set about the depleted Rainford attack to record an easy six-wicket victory.

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