RAIN supreme

NORTHERN ARE THE BIG WINNERS AS WEATHER TAKES TOLL ON FIXTURES

- BY TOM EVANS

NORTHERN closed the gap on Ormskirk at the top of the table by dodging the showers to record a 73-run win over Birkenhead Park.

On a day when nobody else in the top six managed to get a game in, it was the sort of result that can sometimes prove crucial at the season's end.

Whether that proves to be the case this year remains to be seen.

Northern's last title win, in 2021, was by a margin more comprehensive than one game's worth of points, but featured a win at a crucial stage in similar circumstances over Southport & Birkdale.

Stand-in skipper Chris Laker, who is sharing the duties as club captain James Cole recovers from a finger injury, was delighted with what he saw.