ST HELENS Recs 1st XI secured their fifth win of the season with their four wicket triumph at home to local rivals Newton on Saturday. The visitors won the toss and put the home side in to bat on a damp wicket and this seemed to be a good decision as, early on, only Martindale (43) got to grips with the Newton attack and Recs were in trouble until Garvey joined Freeman at the wicket.

Garvey eventually finished on 25 not out but it was Freeman who was the mainstay of the innings finishing on 63 not out. This allowed captain Wood to declare on 179-6 from 55 overs.

In reply, Newton struggled against some tight bowling and caught paceman Garvey in excellent form. Reduced to 114-6, Newton never looked likely to reach the target and it was Garvey who finished the innings off ending with superb figures of 7-44 from 16.1 overs as Newton were dismissed for 139 off 32.1 overs.

The 2nd XI travelled to North Wales to play third in the table Northop Hall. The home side won the toss and elected to bat first on a good batting track. Northop got off to a flying start with Roberts reaching 51 in just 11 overs before Ball dismissed him in his first over.

But still the runs flowed and the home side reached 90-3 from 17 overs before the brakes were applied and they only added another 18 runs in the next 10 overs. Ball suffered towards the end of the innings but still finished with figures of 4-58 from 18 overs as Northop declared on 203-6 from 45 overs.

In reply, Recs got off to a disastrous start losing their first three wickets for only 14 runs, but Huyton and Critchley (31) took the score to 85.

Needing 107 from the last 20 overs, Huyton and Filson took up the run chase before the former was dismissed for 55 and with eight overs left Recs needed 48 to win with just three wickets left.

In an exciting finish 12 was needed from the final over and Healey crashed a four from the final delivery to win the match. He finished on 29 not out but Filson was the star with 51 not out as Recs scored 206-7 from 50 overs.

The 3rd JP XI played host to a strong Maghull side. Recs were inserted on a damp pitch and struggled against some tight bowling.

Only opener Gibson reached double figures and almost carried his bat through the innings. When he was out for a hard-earned 82 Recs could not capitalise and ended on 117 all out from 52.3 overs.

In reply, Recs made a fight of it, reducing the visitors to 66-4 from 33 overs with Hughes the pick of the bowlers with 3-46 from 13 overs. But Maghull recovered to end up with 118 for 5 from 36 overs to win the match.

This week the 1st XI have a difficult match away at Liverpool on Saturday, the match being sponsored by Sparks Light and Sound.