RAINFORD were given the opportunity to make amends for last weeks crushing Sandhurst Shield defeat at the hands of the Wigan side as they entertained their fellow Merseyside Alliance strugglers Norley Hall.

The home side are now well aware that they are ominously peering into the relegation abyss.

Earlier, things had looked fine as opener Steve Meredith and number three Michael Lambert took the game to the visitors after being asked to bat on a run feast of a wicket.

Welsh battler Meredith (43) is consistency itself while young Lambert top scored with a fine 69 as the home side passed the three figure mark for the loss of just one wicket.

But after their dismissals the rest of the order resembled a procession with only stand in skipper Phil Curran (13) reaching double figures as the innings folded for a well below par 165.

The Norley opening pair looked relatively untroubled as they passed their target with ease to record a ten-wicket success.

Every game is now a cup final for Rainford but phlegmatic chairman John Williams can take heart from the impending return of star men Tully, Tonge and Harrison.