RAINHILL sit bottom of the Love Lane Liverpool and District Cricket Competition's Premier League after opening the season with two defeats.

Champions Northern piled on the runs at Moor Park, declaring on 253 for four from 51.4 overs. Tyler McGladdery top scored with 31 as the Rainhill replied crumbled to 121 all out.

Newton le Willows also came out second best in their tussle with Wigan. Jack Morley finished unbeaten on 31 but the hosts could only post 118 all out which Wigan reached for the loss of just two wickets.

Rainford made it two from two in Division One with a 53 run win at Caldy. Opener Matt Bailey (46) set the platform for a competitive 160 all out, with Jimmy Davies (41) and Craig Woods (27) making significant contributions to boost the total. A frugal opening salvo from Jimmy Davies and Liam Gaskell was followed up by a brilliant spell from skipper John Dotters taking seven for 20 to clean up the Caldy side for 107.

St Helens Town continued their winning start to life in Divison Two with a big win over Southport Trinity. Ryan Donnelly (46) and Patrick Whipps (50) allowed Town to declare on 205 for nine Sharan Rajendran (3-41) and Callum Hewitt (4-24) cleaned Trinity up for 133 in a 72 run victory. 

Sutton suffered a torrid day at Maghull for whom Liam Crilly hit an unbeaten 121 as the hosts decked on a massive 260 for one off 51 overs. Only three Sutton players reached double figures as they were dimissed for jusy 71 inside 20 overs. 

In the Southport and District Amateur Cricket League, Kurt Sabela's five for 37 was the highlight for Prescot and Odyssey as Whitefield reached an imposing 278 for eight off 43 overs. Sabela then struck an extraordinary 105 off 106 balls but it was not enough as they were bowled out for 173.

Haydock recorded their first win of the season with a six wicket triumph over Mossley Hill. Karl Pennington (3-33) was the pick of the bowlers as the visitors made 153 for eight. Opener Adam Pennington then hit an unbeaten 76 to secure the win.