PRESCOT & Odyssey triumphed by five runs in a low scoring but exciting affair at home to neighbours Rainford, ending the visitors' unbeaten run stretching back to May.

The Burrows Lane outfit are definitely on the up benefiting from the arrival of Pravin Tambe and the astute acquisition of Greg Galbraith, both instrumental in Saturdays win.

Rainford skipper Dave Tully's decision to bowl first looked to have paid dividends after his side had dismissed Carl Oughterson's men for just 99.

When Michael Lambert accounted for the dangerous Tambe, Galbraith (27) held the innings together.

Phil Battersby, making an emotional return to the club where his father Ken and his grandfather Alf played, (the latter famously capturing 10 wickets in a match), rose to the occasion with 5-35, Murtu Lodghar taking 4-21.

The Rainford reply stuttered from the beginning and when Galbraith produced a snorter to uproot Lodghar's off stump, the Indians first ball, the visitors were in trouble at 17-3.

With Tambe (5-21) and Galbraith (4-41) in full flow the Rainford youngsters had no real answer.

Only 16 year old Chris Tonge was able to respond to the situation playing magnificently for his 43 not out which very nearly won the game.

He was left stranded when Galbraith bowled Ian Donnelly with Rainford five runs short.

Rainford seconds are now top of Division three after a comfortable nine-wicket win at home to Tarleton.

Dismissed

Andrew Pickavance, Keith Haskayne and Phil Curran bagged two wickets apiece as the visitors were dismissed for 71.

Alan Maddison (28) and Chris Godwin (33) saw John Pickavance's men safely home.

This Sunday (August 26) Rainford under 15s and Under 18s play Fleetwood Hesketh and Mawdesley respectively, in the Southport and District Junior Finals day to be held, this year, at Rainford.

With the Rainford Under 13s due to play in their cup final on Sunday 31 August at Ormskirk against Southport and Birkdale, and the under 11s losing to Eccleston earlier in August, the club has achieved the rare distinction of having every junior side competing in every league junior final.