NORTHOP Hall all but ended their three-year exile from the Premier League on Saturday as they demolished St Helens by 189 runs at Smithy Lane. With captain Danny Nolan leading from the front with the second century of his career, Hall recorded a maximum 25-2 points win to remain 19 points clear at the top of the First Division. Victory tomorrow at an Ainsdale side who are now safe from the drop would see them promoted and, with second-placed Newton-le-Willows going head-to-head with third-placed Rainford, most likely see them promoted as champions. Nolan, whose maiden ton came in July, said: “We were very conscious that a win would move us within touching distance of promotion, so the century came at a nice time. “But it was not just me, the whole team batted really well as our score shows. We then bowled them out for 85 so the credit should go to all of the lads.” Nolan made the lowly Saints pay for inserting his men after winning the toss as he hammered 101, a knock which included 16 fours and a six. He also shared a third-wicket partnership of 106 with Simon Butler, who was stopped 23 runs short of a fifth century of the season after smashing 77 off just 52 balls. Alex Smith (26), Matty Cree (25no) and Dave Kennedy (21) also chipped in as Nolan declared on 274-4 before Ata-ur-Rehman (5-33) and Butler (3-17) ripped the visitors apart for 85 inside 26 overs. Northop Hall 2nds face their final home match of what has been a fine first season in the Second XI Premier Division tomorrow. Bobby Roberts’ sixth-placed boys welcome relegation-threatened Fleetwood Hesketh to Smithy Lane keen to bounce back from Saturday’s 25-1 points reverse at third-placed Bootle. Only Alistair Roberts and Will Higginson (both 18) showed resistance as Hall fell for 64 before the Merseysiders made their way to 65-3, despite the best efforts of Simon Kars (3-29). Hawarden Park lost the Cheshire Women’s League Twenty20 Cup final to all-conquering Chester Boughton Hall. Dawn Prestidge (20no) and Shami Ahmed (16) helped hoist the Division Two title challengers up from 25-3 to 75-9, only for the Division One champions to reach 79-3 with seven wickets and five overs to spare after Emma Parry took an early wicket. | 
Flintshire Sport 
