Announcements

THE National 12 Stage Road Relays and the North of England U17 5k Championships take place at Birkenhead Park on Sunday which for the first time in a number of years saw a full St Helens Sutton A.C. team compete over the 12 stage relay.

On first leg star runner Tom Griffiths got the team under way coming back in 18th in a time of 24:16 for the first long leg of the day.

Ian Roberts then took up the cause on the short leg running 15:26.

Ste Anders was up next on the second long leg coming back in 28:10, followed by Will Beesley (13:37), David Twigg (26:23), Barry Graney (14:53), Jake Healy (28:40), Leon Hill (14:04), Matt Blake (14:31), Chris Taylor (14:28), Greg Williams (14:27), and completing the final short leg to bring the team home in 40th out of 75 teams was Ian Costello (15:47).

Prior to the 12 Stage, the rising talent of Charlie Roberts competed in the U17 North of England 5k Championships making a fantastic debut in his new age group finishing in 11th place in a time of 16:32.

Saturday saw a couple of athlete’s head over to the fast and flat Cheshire 10k with David Twigg, having a double race weekend, coming home in 28th out of a field of 1250 in a new PB of 34:01, followed by Andrew Wilson in 63rd also in a new PB of 36:06 and 6th Vet 45+.

Pilks step closer to league leaders

PILKS moved a step closer to the league leaders with a scrappy 1-0 win away at Greenalls Padgate St Oswalds.

The Tetley Walker is always a tough place to go and with a swirling wind and very bumpy pitch it made for a game of little quality.

This was quickly followed by a penalty shout before Matty Taylor was crowded out in the box. With the opposition’s insistence of playing out from the goalkeeper, Pilks were enjoying quite a lot of possession from their hard working press.

On 23 minutes the deadlock was broken when Sephton won the ball back on the half way line and played a defence-splitting pass for Taylor to finish at the second attempt after a good save by the keeper.

With Pilks needing nothing but a win this came as a big relief but they started getting a little sloppy and for the last 20 minutes of the half it was Greenalls who had control but their half chances were easily snuffed out.

Pilks came out in the second half with more purpose and should have been further ahead when chances were missed following hard work from both Boylan and Adam Dixon.

This game was perfectly poised with Pilks keeping the pressure up for another goal and Greenalls dangerous on the counter. Taylor had a few more snapshots but the impressive Greenalls keeper got to each one.

Greenalls should have been down to 10 men on 70 minutes after Boylan was fouled by the defender as he attempted to round him and score into an open net. Unfortunately the referee deemed it only a yellow and the free-kick was wasted.

As the game came to a close there were some nervy moments for Pilks and they were relieved to see Nathan Moore burst out of defence and take the ball right into the Greenalls box before being upended and the referee pointing to the spot. After a little confusion and a yellow card being shown, the referee then changed his mind on the advice of his Assistant.

Pilks held on for the win and they now require 6 points and a +3 goal difference from their final two home games to lift the Cheshire League Premier Division and promotion to the North West Counties League.