Report and photos by Peter Rogan

Ormskirk players enjoyed their most successful weekend of the season winning both the Premier League fixture on the Saturday against Formby and following it up on Sunday with a tremendous victory against Northern in a Round 4 match of the Royal London National Club Championship.

In the game against Formby at Brook Lane the visitors won the toss and elected to bat.

Initially the Ormskirk bowlers made good progress with Jamie Barnes and Scott Lees making progress to leave Northern at 70-4. However, the batsmen, led by opener Calum Turner slowly but surely took the ascendancy and the score mounted with two strong partnerships. Turner and Ollie Sutton(5) put on 52 runs for the 5th wicket and Turner and Sam Ellis(20) put on 68 for the 5th wicket to leave the score on 190-6. The 7th wicket partnership between Turner and Darkes Sutcliffe (24) put on a further 40 runs before it was broken.

Calum Turner was going from strength to strength having reached 108 and went on to score a fine 136 before he lost his wicket, being caught by Scott Lees off the bowling of Taylor Cornall. At the loss of his wicket the Formby innings was declared at 232-6. The pick of the bowlers was Jamie Barnes with figures of 4 wickets for 56 runs off 15 overs.

Ormskirk made a solid start putting on 40 runs before the first wicket fell with Alex Rankin (19) being trapped lbw off the bowling of Dewi Jones. The next two wickets fell in quick succession after a further 46 runs had been added. Both Taylor Cornall (48) and Richard Brook (14) falling to LBW decisions. The new partnership of Gary Knight and Harvey Rankin which yielded 13 runs and was broken when Gary Knight (2) was caught to leave the score on 99-4.

With all the top order batsmen gone it was left to Harvey Rankin to steady the ship and he did it in style going on to score 73 runs, with other valuable contributions being made by Sam Marsh (10), George Politis (39) and Robert Rankin (16).

In the 54th over victory was achieved. It was an enthralling and thrilling encounter with the crowd being entertained with 468 runs being scored and 16 wickets taken; the victory took Ormskirk to 4th position in the Premier League table and augured well for future success in the weeks to come.

Sunday saw Northern, the League leaders and the Area T20 champions, come to Brook Lane for a 4th Round tie in the National Club Championship with a place in the Quarter Finals at stake.

On the recent form of both sides Northern came into the match as strong favourites; Northern won the toss and elected to bat, making a strong start putting on 120 for the first two wickets and looking likely to set a formidable total to chase.

The Ormskirk bowlers, aided by excellent fielding, started to take control. Wickets started to fall at regular intervals and the run rate dropped dramatically. In the 39th over Northern were all out for 186. The bowlers had all done well with Scott Lees leading the pack with 3 for 35 off his 8 overs.

Ormskirk needed a good start and they got one thanks to an opening partnership between Alex Rankin and George Politis. Alex picked the right game to return to top form and with George (36) put on 74 for the first wicket. After his success of the previous day Harvey Rankin joined up with his brother to add a further 40 runs before Harvey(13) lost his wicket to a catch behind. During the partnership Alex reached his half century.

Skipper Gary Knight took up partnership with Alex Rankin to continue the challenge and together they put on a further 20 runs before Alex lost his wicket, having scored an excellent 61 runs.

When John Armstrong came in to join Gary Knight confidence was high and justified. They took control and cruised along to bring the scores level when Gary (31), in an attempt to hit the winning runs, skied on to be caught in the deep by Jack Boardman off the bowling of Justin Snow.

Ian Robinson joined John Armstrong when the pair needed just one run off the remaining 13 balls to secure victory. Ian blocked the first one and gave John the strike for the first ball of the penultimate over to be bowled by ex OCC player Ryan Maddock. It was duly smashed to the boundary by John and victory was secured with him having scored an undefeated 30.

It had been the most productive weekend of the season and whetted the appetites of players and supporters alike for even better triumphs to follow.