THE new cricket season started badly for St Helens with the first and second team losing to Newton-le-Willows and the thirds narrowly losing a hard fought battle at Colwyn Bay.

The first team posted 166 all out with captain Neil Woods top scoring with 34, newly arrived Aussie Paul Newman making a useful 27. David Lowery impressed with 26 after the openers had gone cheaply and Adam Frier chipped in with 20.

Sloppy fielding and dropped catches decided the game as Newton-le-Willows won the game with 11 overs to spare. Bobby Kenny (2-30) Adam Friar (1-37) and Paul Newman (1-42) took the wickets with Paul regretting leaving his sweater in the pavilion as the evening temperature dropped.

The highlight of the innings was a magnificent overhead catch by Gary Sheppard who used his height to advantage on the boundary edge to prevent a six.

At Windleshaw Road Newton scored 167-9 with Ian McCabe starting the season well with 5-43 and Ian Davies 3-72. St Helens managed only 116 in reply with good contributions from Ali Cadel (40), Jeff Gore (22) and Mike Kenny (17). The Third team made the long trek to Colwyn Bay with a young team which nearly pulled off a famous victory. St Helens scored 177- 8 in 40 overs with Ali Cadel again top scoring with 57 and Phil Mitchell scoring an excellent 49. Captain Karl Boardman added a useful 25. Colwyn Bay finally made the winning runs with one over to go but St Helens bowlers made them fight all the way with young Luke Booth turning in an excellent spell of 2-20 off eight overs and Ali Cadel taking a couple of late wickets to set up an exciting finish.

The under 18 team will once again be competing in the Wigan League. Anyone wishing to be considered for the squad contact team manager Darren Tyms.

Next Saturday the first team are once again away at Hightown with the seconds playing the reverse fixture at Windleshaw Road. On Easter Sunday the third team take on Bootle at home.