A WEEK of wind and rain ushered in the new Liverpool and District Cricket Competition season with groundsmen across the region working frantically to make sure Saturday was not a complete wash out.

It proved to be a false dawn for newly promoted Rainford who will have to wait another week for their Premier League return after their trip to Wales and an opening day fixture with Colwyn Bay was abandoned without a ball being bowled. 

Rainhill faced Formby at Cricket Path and got off to a decent start thanks to James Clarke (41) and a half-century from Ross Higham (56). Indian all-rounder Ankit Sharma's 6-49 proved crucial though as the visitors were restricted to a total of 165 all out. An emotional unbeaten century from Ian Cockbain (102no), paying for Formby for the first time since the death of his father, local cricketing legend Ian Cockbain Snr, saw the hosts cruise past the target for the loss of two wickets. 

Newton-le-Willows are many people's favourites for promotion from Division One after last season's points deduction for feilding an ineligible player ensured their relegation from the top tier. But their bid for a quick return faced an early hiccup with a shock defeat at Old Xaverians who posted a modest total of 107 all out, thanks mainly to Safi Abdullah's 5-29. The visitors looked to be cruising at 36-0 but quickly crumbled to 88 all out after spells from Josh Dilworth (5-20) and Colin Gibson (5-19). There was one bright spot for Newton-le-Willows however, with the history-making debut of Emilia Lamb who became the first woman to represent the club at 1st XI level.

St Helens Town's home game with Ainsdale has been moved to a date later in the season due to ongoing work at Ruskin Lane. 

In Division Two, Sutton's home game with Fleetwood Hesketh was abandoned without a ball being bowled.