ST ANNES (94-1) had a comfortable nine wickets victory over Fleetwood (90) at Vernon Road in their first match of the season in the Vaux Northern League.

New captain Russell Bradley won the toss and put the visitors in to bat on a damp and slow pitch.

Both St Annes opening pace bowlers, professional Dave Callaghan and Jo Davies, struck quickly, taking a wicket each with the score on six.

Mike Clinning and Fleetwood professional Shawn Nicolson added 26 runs for the third wicket before the former was trapped lbw by Callaghan for 13.

Four runs later leg-spinner Gareth Evans had Nicolson caught by John Cotton for 15.

Half the Fleetwood side were dismissed for 39 when John Whalley was caught behind by Duncan Whalley off Callaghan without scoring.

Ten runs later Callaghan had Chris Sherlock caught by Jo Davies without scoring.

Pat King was caught and bowled by Callaghan as Fleetwood were reeling at 52 for 7.

Neil Gregson and David Fish took the score on to 64 before Gregson was bowled by John Cotton for four.

Two runs later David Fish was bowled by Cotton without opening his account.

Then Fleetwood captain David Latus and Keith Riley added 24 valuable runs for the last wicket before the latter was bowled by Callaghan for two.

Latus remained undefeated with 31.

David Callaghan, St Annes' new professional, marked his own debut with a remarkable spell of bowling with 17 overs, 8 maidens, 20 runs and 6 wickets.

Off-spinner John Cotton took 2 for 6 from five overs.

St Annes raced to victory in the 20th over for the loss of only one wicket. Bobby Denning was lbw to David Fish for 8, with the score on 24.

Opener Adrian Darlington and Dave Callaghan featured in an unbroken second wicket partnership of 74 to win the game.

Darlington carried his bat for 54.

His innings lasted 63 minutes and he hit one six and seven fours.

His half-century came off 75 balls, while Callaghan was 27 not out at the close of play.

This Saturday (May 1) sees St Annes travel to Sandy Lane to play Leyland Daf.

Their opponents were beaten by five wickets by Blackpool in their opening fixture.

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