
Northop Hall are aiming to keep promotion push on course
Looking to stretch their unbeaten run, Hall make the trip to Whitefield (Roby) tomorrow, while they were left frustrated last time out as their crunch top-of-the-table showdown with Caldy had to be abandoned.
Skipper Slater said: 'We thought we had a chance of seeing where we were at, but unfortunately the rain came.
'We managed to get out for five-ish overs, but after that the heavens opened. I think it would have given us an idea of where we are at, so it was a bit disappointing.'
Hall have experienced defeat on just one occasion so far this summer and they will be targeting a sixth success of the season at Whitefield, who are currently in ninth place.
'It's one of those,' admitted Slater, looking ahead to tomorrow. 'In this league, anyone can beat anyone. I think they're a relatively new team to the competition, but they've had a bit of a change in squad since last year.'
Liam Evans-Ford is rewarded with his promising second team showings by stepping into the first XI once more.
There are home comforts in store for Hall's second team tomorrow as they tackle Highfield.
In the Shropshire League, Chirk will be aiming to maintain their promising run of form.
There have been three wins in their last four encounters for Liam Walker's side, who will be looking for their fourth Division One triumph of the campaign as they welcome fourth-placed Cound.
The upturn in outcomes has moved Chirk up into seventh position in the table and they will head into the encounter on the back of a 35-run success at home to Quatt Seconds.
Ten overs were knocked off each innings and Chirk's effort in the middle produced 193 for seven. Captain Walker led the way with 86 from 87 deliveries, while opener Oliver Gough struck 58.
Walker said: 'It was a good day. We batted well and we bowled well.
'Me and Ollie had a good partnership that set us on the way. We would have liked to kick on to 200-210, but we limped a bit at the end.'
Quatt's reply ended on 158 for seven. Mark Shaw was the pick of the attack with three for 33, while there was a wicket apiece for Gough and Luke Gardner (pictured below).
Looking ahead to tomorrow, Walker added: 'They have got a good side and they have got good players in their side. They will be strong batting, but we will take it as it comes.
'It's been good (three wins out of four). We never start well, to be honest.'
Chirk Seconds are looking to bounce back from a 51-run reverse when they travel to Ludlow Thirds in Division Seven.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Reuters
4 hours ago
- Reuters
Astros avoid sweep with late 11-run onslaught vs. Mariners
July 20 - Christian Walker hit a tiebreaking home run in the sixth inning and the Houston Astros went on to rout the host Seattle Mariners 11-3 Sunday afternoon. Former Mariner Taylor Trammell also hit a solo shot and added a two-run double for Houston, which avoided being swept in the three-game series and extended its lead over Seattle to four games in the American League West. Astros reliever Kaleb Ort (2-1) earned the victory, striking out three in 1 2/3 scoreless innings. The anticipated pitching duel between All-Stars Hunter Brown and Bryan Woo fell short of expectations. The Astros' Brown allowed three runs on six hits over four innings. The right-hander walked two and struck out seven. Seattle's Woo (8-5) opened with four scoreless innings before the Astros tied the score in the fifth and took the lead with the two homers in the sixth. The righty gave up five runs (four earned) in six innings, with one walk and six strikeouts. Walker led off the sixth with a 400-foot shot over the Astros' bullpen in left and, an out later, Trammell hit a blast to right-center. The Astros blew the game open with four runs in the seventh off reliever Casey Legumina. Trammell capped the rally with his two-run double to center. Victor Caratini added a two-run double in the eighth, giving him three hits and three RBIs. The Mariners opened the scoring in the third. Miles Mastrobuoni grounded a leadoff single into right field and, an out later, Julio Rodriguez reached on an infield single. Following a double steal, Cal Raleigh walked to load the bases. With two outs, Jorge Polanco lined a two-run single to right. Seattle added a run in the fourth as Mitch Garver was hit by a pitch and Mastrobuoni walked. With two outs, Rodriguez grounded an RBI single up the middle to make it 3-0. The Astros tied the score in the fifth. Trammell drew a leadoff walk and Mauricio Dubon lined a single to left. After Cooper Hummel grounded into a forceout, Shay Whitcomb hit a flare to shallow left that went off the heel of shortstop J.P. Crawford's glove for an error, allowing Trammell to score. Cam Smith lined a two-run double off the base of the wall in right to even it at 3-3. --Field Level Media


NBC News
19 hours ago
- NBC News
Landmark ruling on trans women by U.K.'s top court sparks heartbreak and confusion
LONDON — Soccer fans know it as 'hallowed ground,' so when Billie Sky Walker walked onto the field at London's Wembley Stadium two years ago, she achieved a dream held by players around the world. Before a Community Shield men's match between Manchester City and Arsenal in August 2023, she proudly donned an official shirt as a representative of the Football Association, the regulatory body for soccer in England, that read, 'The FA is for all. ' Today, the 28-year-old is barred from playing in FA-organized tournaments following a landmark judgment by Britain's Supreme Court in April that said the legal definition of 'woman' is based on biological sex — a huge blow to campaigners for transgender rights that could have far-reaching implications for a wide range of life in the U.K., be it admission to changing rooms, and decisions on hospital beds, equal pay claims and domestic violence shelters. After the judgment, a number of sporting governing bodies, including the FA, changed their rules so that only those born biologically female are allowed to play, excluding Walker and 28 other transgender players across England from the association. The Scottish Football Association followed suit, and Northern Ireland's Irish Football Association appears likely to do the same. Describing the ruling as 'confusing and upsetting,' Walker said she had been welcomed 'into this space' by her cisgender peers, or biological women. Calling the decision to bar Walker 'heartbreaking,' her former teammate Lucy Leiter, 24, said it was not the case that 'only trans women think they should play,' adding, 'The support has been unequivocal from everyone I've ever played with.' Walker, who said she felt that she was a girl from the age of 5 and transitioned at the age of 24, said that playing soccer on a women's team 'really established a huge essence of who I am, because it gave me the safety and comfort and knowledge that I'm enough.' Intense debate The Supreme Court ruling came amid intense and sometimes toxic public debate in the U.K. over the intersection of transgender and women's rights. The debate has also simmered in the U.S., where President Donald Trump has made it one of his signature issues by signing an executive order in February banning trans women from women's sports at the national level. In December 2022, Scottish lawmakers approved a bill that allowed anyone over the age of 16 to change their gender identity using gender certificates, removing the need for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria, the medical term for the distress that results from the conflict between someone's gender identity and sex assigned at birth. The campaign group For Women Scotland later brought a legal case against the semiautonomous government, arguing that sex-based protections should apply only to people who were born female. And Britain's central government blocked the law the following year, invoking for the first time a section of the 25-year-old act that gave the Scottish Parliament control over most of its own affairs. The For Women Scotland case nonetheless worked its way through the court system, reaching the Supreme Court this spring. After the court's 12 justices ruled unanimously in the group's favor, the presiding judge, Lord Hodge, said the decision should not be seen as 'a triumph of one side over the other,' and emphasized that transgender people remain protected under the law. For Women Scotland campaigners celebrated the verdict with hugs, tears of happiness, and champagne as they left the courtroom. 'There was elation and disbelief and, yes, I was absolutely thrilled,' Susan Smith, one of the group's co-founders, told NBC News in a telephone interview last month. 'If people were entitled to say that their sex in law had changed, you can't control who applies for that.' For Smith and her group, the issue of legal gender recognition touches on who gets to make decisions about women's lives and bodies, including their access to spaces from hospital wards to rape crisis centers and prisons.

Leader Live
3 days ago
- Leader Live
Battle of the top-two as Northop Hall tackle Ainsdale
There's a major battle of the top-two in store and it is sure to go a long way to deciding who will eventually take the title. Northop Hall, now up to second in the rankings, are excited for their trip to league leaders Ainsdale. Both sides have mainly been dealing in triumphs this season and of their combined 24 games, 19 of them have resulted in wins. Only three of them have been defeats, so there will be little to choose between the high-flying rivals. 'I would probably say it's a mustn't lose game,' said Northop Hall skipper Ben Slater. 'It will be a good game.' It's a three-way race for the two promotion spots. Ainsdale find themselves 21 points clear of Hall, who are just five points ahead of third-placed Caldy. Caldy suffered a four-wicket loss to Prescot & Odyssey last time out to drop out of the promotion places. 'To be fair to them (Caldy), they have had a good run,' added Slater. 'I think that was their first defeat. You're never going to go a full season without losing a game.' Meanwhile, Hall go into the match on the back of a thumping 113-run win over Norley Hall. Jac Kennedy (61), Slater (55 not out) and Andrew Watkin (42) made valuable contribution's in Hall's 235 for four declared in 49 overs. The bowlers were tasked with finishing off the job and they did so in style to dismiss the visitors for 122. Not for the first time this season, the bulk of the plaudits went the way of Paul Jenkins with his six for 34 return. Slater, who heralded another 'bowling masterclass' from Jenkins, added: 'We batted really well as a team. Andy and Jac added 99 for the first wicket. 'That makes the game miles easier for those coming in afterwards.' Matteo Evans-Ford and Liam Evans-Ford will be added to the Northop Hall side. Northop Hall Seconds will look to make the most of home comforts as they entertain Ainsdale Seconds. Chirk have strengthened their ranks ahead of a free weekend of action in the Shropshire League. They have secured the services of Matty Lawrenson, from North Wales League Marchwiel and Wrexham. Lawrenson is a talented bowling all-rounder and is sure to bring energy, control and valuable experience to the squad. In Division Seven, Chirk Seconds pay a visit to Whittington.