Ormskirk lead cut as rivals dodge the rain

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.

- BY TOM EVANS

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.

He said: “It was brilliant to get the game on - a great effort from the grounds team through the week and the night before, and from the whole team on the day.

“We had good buy-in from both teams - Birkenhead were keen to get the game on and make the most of the day.

“And we came out on the right side of it. It’s still very early days, we're only seven games in and there's a long way to go.”