Bulcock rolls back years for champs

LEFT-ARM spinner Toby Bulcock took his best club figures in 12 years, 8/55, as defending champions Ormskirk stretched their lead at the top with a comfortable win over Birkenhead Park.

- BY TOM EVANS

The hosts eased to a six-wicket win after Park managed just 118.

Northern are well clear in second after their 62-run win at Wigan. Aussie Alex Vincent top-scored with 77 in the visitors' 211.

Wallasey's Seb Botes said last week's nine-wicket haul was a one-off, and so it proved... he only managed 8/58 as his side rolled Newton-le-Willows for just 96.

All but one of Botes' strikes were unassisted, and he again took three in an over - a high quality trio of captain Ben Walkden, Lancashire's George Bell and overseas all-rounder Hamish McKenzie. It wasn't plain sailing for the batters after that, but they did enough to wrap up a four-wicket win.