PRESCOT & Odyssey entertained local rivals Rainhill on Saturday with the visitors winning the toss and opting to field first.

Rainhill had the better of the early stages as Pearl was undone by movement to be bowled and Murphy was adjudged caught behind.

The visiting attack took advantage of the quick track and tied P&O down, picking up wickets just as the batsmen looked to be getting settled.

Skipper Oughterson, however, weighed in with a quick 30 and Steve Danson, due some runs and luck after recent matches, scored a fine unbeaten 51. He was ably assisted by Bill Ewen (27) and Ian Wilkinson late on as they took the score to 186-7.

Rainhill started brightly in reply with skipper Rotherham and opening partner Robinson (20) looking in good nick.

Cartmel was then replaced by McComb in the home attack, while Hayhurst was forced off with a hamstring injury to be replaced by Wilkinson.

This proved to be to P&O's advantage as the in-form 'spin twins' first slowed down the run rate and then began to take wickets.

Once Rotherham fell for 49, to a blinding caught and bowled by McComb, Rainhill never looked capable of achieving the target and decided to 'shut up shop'. They managed to score just 39 runs in the final hour, taking their score to 124-5 at stumps.

For P&O, Alan McComb took another six-wicket haul for just 28 runs.

Match ball sponsor: Zircom Data Communications.

This week P&O 1st entertain NALGO while the 2nds are away to the same opposition as the season goes into the second half. The 3rds visit Tranmere Vics.

Rainhill 2nds entertained P & O in a high scoring draw where 374 runs were scored in total.

The visitors were put into bat first and soon set about Rainhill's bowling as N. Lockwood hit 62 and P West was top score on 71.

That was a partnership of 70 for the 2nd wicket which young Liam Yate brought to an end by trapping him LBW.

Youngster Colin Gannon was the pick of the Rainhill bowlers to take a well deserved 2 for 47 off 10 overs. Their middle order consolidated to take the total to 206 for 5 declared off 46 overs which is double batting points.

After the break, the home side were in trouble at 35-3, but then ever improving Matty Dooling scored his first senior 50 for the club, but was caught out on 51.

That took the total to 95-4 and in came ex-Widnes player Graham Pink, who kept the middle order going by hitting 23. Young Liam Yate notched up a good knock of 28 not out, the 2nd highest score and even Steve Tilley was not to be outdone by scoring a quick fire 20 to make a final total of 168 for 9 off 55 overs with the last 20 used up.

The Sunday XI made the short trip to the Liverpool suburb of Allerton where Singlehurst were home at The Simpson Ground. The home side were put into bat and quick bowler Danny Sherratt made a brilliant caught and bowled to get the opener P. Smith out for 4. Then they got going and started to score plenty of fours and N. Bennett was the top scorer on an unbeaten 43. But spin bowler Ross Strachan eventually got some luck to take two wickets for 45. The visitors were a bit thin on batting, but made an exceptional recovery with star player Ross Strachan making an invaluable 20.

Young Andrew Cook also made an excellent contribution of 19 to make the total a bit more respectable at 109 all out and so losing our first game of the season.