ON Saturday Haydock 1st XI entertained Tarleton on a well prepared wicket which would yield 417 runs.

Winning the toss skipper Darren Matthews elected to bat but lost two quick wickets.

However Haydock built steadily to finish on 208 for 8 at tea. David Cross (56) was again the pick of the batsmen.

Notable contributions came from Craig Gardiner 36 and opener Craig Sackfield 34. After the interval Tarleton breezed past the Haydock total with six overs to spare, losing only one wicket. Opener John Dyson posted a fine 126.

The Second XI returned to winning ways with an early nine wicket victory over Tarleton Second XI.

Tarleton elected to bat a decision they would soon regret as the Haydock bowlers dismissed Tarleton for 107. Under 15 Kieran Parkinson opened the bowling and returned 2 for 40 but the pick was Andy Martin with 5 for 27.

After a quick tea Haydock set about the Tarleton bowlers as they knocked off the required runs in quick style for the loss of only one wicket.

Opener Michael Fogarty top scored with 53 and was ably supported by fellow opener Billy Hurst who finished not out on 37.

Bank Holiday Monday saw the visit of Litherland to Lyme Park and after heavy overnight rain the ground staff worked hard to make the pitch playable.

An issue hotly debated by the visiting team who managed to delay the start by 30 minutes. Losing the toss and being asked to bat Haydock got off to a flying start with 45 off the first 8 overs.

The loss of Craig Sackfield and then fellow opener Shaun Lathom for 39 sparked a mid order collapse which was rallied in a sixth wicket partnership of 63 by skipper Darren Matthews and veteran groundsman Paul Tatton. Matthews finished on 27 whilst Tatton went on to score his maiden Haydock 50.

A quick 20 off as many balls by Andrew Bentham saw Haydock reach 175 for 7 off 44 overs. Litherland had been supported by a hostile spell of bowling from C Green who finished with 4 for 46. After the interval Litherland played their shots without ever threatening the total and they may have rued the fact that they delayed the start.

They finished on 134 for 7 as the Haydock bowlers tried every variation to earn wickets but time ran out. Paul Tatton 2 for 18 and call out kind Dave Burrows 3 for 32 were the pick of the bowlers. Ian Ericson 34 and C. Chatterton 47 were best for Litherland.