St Helens Town 1st XI went back to the top of the Liverpool competition second division with an 8 wicket win over Birkenhead St.Marys.

With rain around the match started an hour late and Town won the toss and decided to bowl for the second week in a row.

Phil Murgatroyd and Jimmy Davies opened the bowling and got a couple of early wickets between them but the hosts batted responsibly and made it hard for their wickets to be captured.

St Helens showed that they have versatility with the ball and continued to fight hard as they have done all year to claw things back to leave Birkenhead 126-7.

With Matty Fisher's off spin doing the damage with figures of 4-23 from his 9 overs, Davies finishing with three wickets, Town bundled the hosts out for 134.

In reply St Helens started poorly losing opener Critchley for 10, captain Woods joined the returning David Gaskell at the crease and set off where he finished last week hitting boundaries with ease, Gaskell who also batted freely was out for 30 and left the score 60-2.

Ian Knowles walked to the crease and accompanied Woods as the assault on the Birkenhead bowling continued, the pair put on 75 and won the game for Town in just 17.1 overs. Knowles (20) and Woods 73 not out from just 36 balls as St Helens Town return to the top of the league.