Burscough miss out on promotion

Sep 20 2012 by Our Correspondent, Ormskirk Advertiser

BURSCOUGH narrowly failed in their bid to reach the first division of the Liverpool Competition, going down to newly-crowned champions Birkenhead Park by six wickets during the final weekend of the season.

In the final analysis, they had to be content with third spot, trailing runners-up Parkfield Liscard by 23 points and Park by 37.

Targeting a maximum 25 points at Prenton to give them a shout of promotion was a mountainous task from the start but, batting first, Burscough went about their task in a positive manner.

They rattled up 160-5 in 50.3 overs (Brendan Domigan 88, Lee Berrie 31, Alan Murray 25) and despite realising that they had to dismiss the hosts for 99 to keep their promotion dreams alive tossed down the gauntlet.

Initially victory looked a possibility as Park lost their first three wickets for less than 50 but then an unbroken stand involving Stenhouse (51) and Howard (49) shattered Burscough's hopes.

The 2nd X1 came within a whisker of ending their campaign on a high note at School Lane.

After smashing 150 (Dick Powell 66, Kenny Hughes 33) they had opponents Fleetwood Hesketh reeling at 113/9 when stumps were drawn.

Youngsters Daniel Houghton (5-21) and Josh Unsworth (4-28) were Burscough's most impressive bowlers.