NEWTON won the battle of local pride by defeating St Helens in the Liverpool and District Cricket League.

After winning the toss, things started brilliantly as Ikram Malik and Aaron Scott blitzed through the Saints top order, reducing them to 16 for 6.

The destruction continued with Ikram finishing with five wickets and Scott, three, as Newton bowled out Saints for 109.

Newton opened up with Lyon and Shiv Sundar Das but even their early dismissals could not stop Newton claiming victory.

Captain Ian Walkden continued his excellent start to the season with 56 not out and Danny Barlow blitzed 'a run per ball' 24 not out.

The second team visited St Helens' seconds and a similar outcome appeared likely as Saints were quickly reduced to 60 for 6 with openers Barlow, 4 for 57, and Halliwell, 1 for 24, doing the early damage.

Despite a middle order recovery, Newton then turned to Birchall, 3 for 56, and Boardman, 1 for 11, to finish the job as St Helens recovered to 191 for 9 declared.

St Helens were never in it in the second half of the game as Holcroft, 74 not out, and Toal, 77, put on a stand of 120 for the third wicket, leaving Newton to run out comfortable winners by four wickets.

The thirds entertained Highfield and fielded some of the county's most promising junior players.

Newton got off to an excellent start with Neil Cross breaking through the top order with some extreme pace and picking up 5 for 22 on his return to the club.

Excellent bowling from Dave Evans, Chris Birchall and John Humphries finished the job as Highfield could only manage 64 all out.

Newton's youngsters batted brilliantly in the second half with 15-year-old Dave Fearnley, who scored 23, and 13-year-old Ryan Davies, who hit 11, the pick of the batsmen as the young chargers romped home by five wickets.

This weekend the first team entertain Ainsdale at Crow Lane on Saturday and travel to St Helens on Monday, while the seconds travel to Ainsdale on Saturday and entertain St Helens at Crow Lane on Monday.