ALTHOUGH both sides lagged behind seemingly uncatchable Association leaders, Walshaw CC, the match between fourth-placed Clifton and mid-table Standish had a good feel about it.

With the wicket still showing signs of dampness, Clifton skipper Phil Royle decided to let the visitors have first knock.

Standish opener John Waddington started proceedings with a flick to fine leg off Pro Steve Holt's first delivery. Gary Tonge, the ex Bolton League man, opened from the Manchester Road end and his early probing suggested a difficult start for Standish. An absolutely suicidal run out of Standish skipper Mark Ramsdale with the score on 12 didn't inspire confidence.

Clifton's opening attack continued to press, with Standish only scoring 20 off their first 18 overs. When Craig Savage became the second run out victim on 37, you knew Standish were under real pressure.

This brought Arivndam Sarkar to the wicket and, to say the least, Tony Potter's first over brought action -- a close lbw and two catches to hand in the first three deliveries! In Potter's next over, Sarkar took two successive sixes. Sometimes Cricket can be cruel!

I love watching Sarkar -- he looks a top class player. He dominated the League attack, scoring 95 in the recent Trinity match, and he is also a very useful bowler. Added to which, he is coaching Standish's future during the week. When Potter switched ends, he soon had Waddington lbw to give umpire Maurice Kerfoot a hat-trick of victims!

Clifton's youngsters then came into the action. Andrew Griffiths tempted Sarkar to a leg side flick, which brought a stunning catch from Gareth Cross behind the wicket. These two lads are a testimony to the excellent Junior set-up at Clifton, all four of their sides being in Association Finals. A real credit to Tony Potter and Co.

Run outs continued aplenty as the Standish innings finished on 112. When they began their reply, Clifton captain Phil Royle was soon out to the bowling of Khalid. Pro Sarkar then got into the act by bowling Weir, to leave the home side 32/2, then repeating the dose with the vital wicket of Tony Kelly for 12. Rain in the air, a different game was evolving.

Gareth Cross and Andy Griffiths then put together an attacking partnership. Both members of Lancashire U16s, you could see why, as they dismantled the Standish attack, Clifton running out seven wicket winners, Cross 44 not out, Griffiths 34 not out.

One final point. Standish had no scorer, so two of Clifton's young lads, Neil Jennings and Barry Robinson, stepped in to maintain a vital part of the game of cricket.