Cricket: Bangor skipper Robbie Marshall believes his team can still finish in top three

Colwyn Bay target a huge win over Bootle

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18:45, 17 AUG 2018
Updated18:48, 17 AUG 2018

Bangor batsman Nadeem Rehman defends this ball against Llandudno

North Wales Cricket League

Bangor skipper Robbie Marshall believes his team could still secure a top-three finish in the North Wales Cricket League Premier Division if they keep up their recent improved form until the end of the season.

The reigning champions will target a third straight victory tomorrow when they visit Denbigh, but know they face a tough task against opponents which beat them comfortably by seven wickets at Ty Newydd in June.

Marshall said: "It is nice to be back on winning ways, but it's important we try to keep this momentum till the end of the season.

"Unfortunately that has been our problem this term, we haven't had the consistency of putting a run of good results together.

"On Saturday it will be another opportunity to add another win. However, as Denbigh proved earlier in the season at ours, they are a very tough outfit and can beat anyone on their day."

Bangor will be without all-rounder David Winter and vice-captain Matt Haswell, but Marshall added: "It provides opportunities for second team players to shine.

"We are hoping for a strong finish to the campaign with all teams around us still to play, and with a good run there is no reason why we can't end up in the top three."

Last weekend saw fresh life being breathed into the title race when Menai Bridge were beaten at second-place Llandudno.

Bridge are still 24 points clear at the summit with five rounds of matches remaining.

The Bangor skipper said: "With regards to the title, I think Llandudno have opened the door slightly following last week's win, which will make for an exciting finish to the season.

"Menai Bridge have been by far the most consistent team of the season, but cricket's a funny game and nothing is ever certain."

One player central to Bangor's chances today is Indian all-rounder Nadeem Rehman, who last weekend scored 71 not out against Hawarden to pass 500 league runs in a season for the 13th successive year in North Wales.

Leaders Menai Bridge will be keen to bounce back immediately from last week's loss at Llandudno - only their second league defeat in 17 matches - when they host relegation candidates Connah's Quay at Tyn-y-Caeau.

Llandudno will be fancied to keep their winning streak running when they visit already-relegated Chirk.

Third-place Brymbo are home to Hawarden Park, while St Asaph, who lie fourth, travel to Pwllheli, losers of their last two outings.

Completing tomorrow's Premier line-up is a clash between two teams who have proved on their day they can overcome the challenge of anyone in the division this term.

Gresford will be aiming for a sixth win in a row when they welcome Northop to Clappers Lane.

Liverpool Cricket Competition

Two players key in one of Colwyn Bay's finest wins of the season last weekend will be missing tomorrow's action.

Spinner Paul Jenkins, who grabbed 4-14 in the eight-wicket victory against Formby, and Pat Leach, who top-scored with 32, are both absent for the Bay's meeting with Bootle at Penrhyn Avenue tomorrow afternoon.

Last Saturday's win lifted Colwyn up to fourth-from-bottom and put them 19 points clear of the relegation spots.

Now they need to follow that up against a Bootle outfit they have struggled to beat over many years.

Bay skipper Sion Morris returns after missing the Formby triumph, while Tom Roberts steps up from the second team.

"It was an excellent result and performance last Saturday, and a much-needed 25 point victory," said Morris. "We’ll be hoping to keep it going against Bootle.

"With five games to go and needing to play each of the bottom three, it's a crucial stage of the season for us. Each win is like gold-dust for us but it's a case of taking each week as it comes, doing our best and then seeing how other results go."

Prestatyn, who are sixth in the 1st XI First Division, are home tomorrow against a Birkenhead Park outfit one place below them in the table.

Aussie all-rounder Peter Cassidy reached 70 league wickets for Prestatyn last weekend and is closing in on 500 runs.

Northop Hall, third in the 1st XI Second Division and still well on course for promotion, are home to Southport Trinity.

Colwyn Bay seconds, 51 points clear in the 2nd XI First Division, face a huge tussle when they visit second-place Liverpool. A win would go a long way towards securing Premier Division cricket next year for the Bay.

FIXTURES

Saturday

Liverpool and District Cricket Competition

1st XI ECB Premier League: Colwyn Bay v Bootle.

1st XI First Division: Prestatyn v Birkenhead Park.

1st XI Second Division: Northop Hall v Southport Trinity.

2nd XI First Division: Liverpool v Colwyn Bay, Rainford v Northop Hall.

2nd XI Second Division: Caldy v Prestatyn.

North Wales Cricket League

1st XI Premier Division: Brymbo v Hawarden Park, Chirk v Llandudno, Denbigh v Bangor, Gresford v Northop, Menai Bridge v Connah's Quay, Pwllheli v St Asaph.

1st XI First Division: Abergele v Dolgellau, Conwy v Mochdre, Llanrwst v Mold, Pontblyddyn v Bersham.

1st XI Second Division: Bodedern v Halkyn, Corwen v Ruthin, Gwersyllt Park v Buckley, Llangollen v Carmel & District, Marchwiel and Wrexham v Mynydd Isa.

2nd XI Premier Division: Buckley v Gresford, Carmel & District v Pontblyddyn, Hawarden Park v Menai Bridge, Llay Welfare v Brymbo, Mochdre v Denbigh, Northop v Bangor.

2nd XI West Division: Bethesda v Conwy, Caernarfon v Pwllheli, Llandudno v Dolgellau.

2nd XI East Division: Castell Alun v Chirk, Halkyn v Ruthin, Maeshafn Argoed v Connah's Quay, Mold v Marchwiel and Wrexham.