HAYDOCK continued their title charge with a fine victory at home to Skelmersdale on Saturday.

Lyme Park, bathed in glorious sunshine, saw another thoroughly professional job from the Haydock boys.

Winning the toss Skem took first knock on a beautiful flat batting track. Haydock had to survive the early loss after 10 overs of skipper Dave Cross through injury but wicket keeper Steve Webster took over the reins and marshalled his troops well.

Openers M Forster (28) and D Hallcroft (18) showed stubborn resistance early on against the pace of Aussie Aidrian Barr and guile of Paul Johnson but the stand was eventually broken at 51 by Johnson.

And there then followed a steady procession of batsmen to the pavilion as Haydock got their tails up dismissing the visitors for 108. A Barr (6/57) P Johnson (2/30) M Clark (1/15).

When Haydock took to the crease they showed what a batters paradise the wicket really was with the openers Ken Brookhouse (42 no) and Derek Gibson standing in at the head of the order for the skipper also (42 no) pass the target with ease. Haydock's second string recorded their first win in over a month against bottom of the table Aughton.

Losing the toss, Haydock were asked to field, and the Aughton batsmen were soon in trouble as the nagging accuracy of Ste Bridge (2/20) and a hostile spell from Barry Jordan (2/21) ripped through the early order.

The Aughton middle order made a slight recovery and took the score to 68 until skipper Paul Reid threw the ball to Gary Conley who proceeded to rip through the lower order taking five wickets for only seven runs in a blistering spell as Aughton were dismissed for 85 in 42 overs.

Following tea the batting order was re-jigged and openers Ian Bolton and Alan Lever proceeded to despatch the bowling to all parts of the ground before Lever was dismissed for 20.

Bolton went on and reached a well deserved half century before being dismissed one run further with the end in sight. Chris Nuttall (10 not out) and Mark Fogerty (10 not out) finished off the job and Haydock ran out worthy winners.

The Banks man of the match was Bolton.

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