IT was a disappointing weekend for EDS Leigh with their league match against Wigan being abandoned without a ball bowled and the big game against Bootle in the Lancashire Knockout Competition ending in a 25-run defeat.

Dave Dove won the toss and decided to gamble on asking Bootle to bat first in anticipation of stoppages for rain which, in the event, failed to materialise.

Leigh tasted early success against the visitor's father and son opening pair with Ian Cockbain jnr. being caught for one off Pedrola with the score on 27.

This brought Graham Lloyd, the ex-England and Lancashire player, to the wicket and he helped his skipper take the score to 74 before Cockbain senior was smartly stumped by Gareth Cross off the bowling of Chris Melia for 36 and Lloyd was caught off Dave Potter for 29.

Against some highly-competitive Leigh bowling Bootle's middle order had to work hard for their runs after Brendan Donkers had claimed the prize scalp of Richard Hignett for only 13. Hitchmough (22), Reynolds (30) and Lamb (22 not out) all battled hard to maintain the scoring rate as the Merseysiders advanced to 180-6 at the start of the 45th. and last over of the innings.

Ronnie Davis bowled this over and sensationally claimed his second hat-trick against Bootle in less than a year. Sainsbury was stumped by Cross off the first ball of the over, Jones was lbw off the second and Fisher was bowled off the third. The rest of the over passed without further incident and Bootle finished with 180-9. Davis had once again bowled excellently to take 4 for 28 and was well backed up by the other bowlers, in particular spinner Chris Melia whose nine tidy overs earned him 1-21.

Bootle's recently-signed Cheshire paceman Charlie Lamb helped to make life difficult for the Leigh openers with his opening five over spell costing only one run and the first wicket fell at 42 in the 16th over when Steven Mullaney was bowled for 15.

Next to go was the unlucky Tim Rees who was controversially given out caught when visiting captain Cockbain dived forward to apparently take the ball after it had bounced. This was the first victim for quick bowler Gavin Reynolds who proceeded to induce a succession of uppish shots from the Leigh batsmen on his way to claiming 6-26 off 9 overs, five of whom were caught.

Andy Batterley (29), Heath Pedrola (17) and Ronnie Davis (22) all tried their utmost to dominate some awkward bowling but Leigh gradually fell further behind the required run rate and never looked likely to win.

The lower order kept things moving with Dove scoring 15, Donkers 11 and Neil Williams a stylish 13 n.o. but the end came with Leigh well short of their target at 155-9.

For the visitors Reynolds was given good support by Lamb (1-26), Fisher (1-22) and Sainsbury (1-19), their impressive bowling line-up being unfortunately just too good for Leigh on the day.

Leigh now look forward to travelling to New Brighton for their next match where they are certain to be given a difficult game followed by a local derby on Bank Holiday Monday against Newton-le-Willows who are newly promoted as first division champions.