NEWTON le Willows have been confirmed as Love Lane Liverpool Competition Division One champions with two games left of the season.

A draw against Ainsdale saw them win enough points to confirm the title and relegate their hosts with second-place Birkenhead Park falling to a defeat at home to Bootle. 

Batting first, Ian Walkden top scored with 56 as Chris Chambers' side were bowled out for 219. Ainsdale closed on 192-8 with Ahmad Safi Abdullah taking 4-99 from his 28 overs and Ben Walkden chipping in with 3-42. 

While Newton le Willows can look forward to a return to the Premier League, St Helens Town's Division One future is hanging by a thread but they gave their chances of survival a huge boost by beating fellow strugglers Caldy by 62 runs.

Jonny Hine (41) top scored as Town were bowled out for 155 at Ruskin Drive before Sibusiso Maseko posted extraordinary figures of 8-12 off 23 overs to dismiss Caldy for 93 and seal a vital win.

In the Premier League, Rainford and Rainhill met in a one-sided clash at Church Road with the hosts restricted to 123 all out by Rainhill's Khalid Usman (6-25) and Jack Lowrie (4-33). The modest target proved more than enough as the visitors were skittled for just 46 with Andrew Davies (6-16) and John Dotters (4-28) doing the damage. 

In Division Two, Sutton's promotion hopes took a massive hit as they lost to strugglers Parkfield Liscard. Joe Smith (77no) carried his bat to help his side reach 154 all out but the Wirral side passed the target for the loss of nine wickets despite good figures for Andy Cowley (4-33) and Jamie Greener (3-46).