A look back on the action from this past weekend for Maghull’s senior sides.
Cowley and Brown Blow 1st XI Away
The 1st XI fell to a four-wicket loss away at Sutton (St Helens) in a game where the bowlers had the upper hand throughout. After electing to bat first, Maghull made the worst possible start. Openers Jon Ring and Joe Campbell both fell to their first deliveries. When Josh Byrne was sent back to the pavilion without scoring, Maghull had slumped to 0-3. Frank Byron soon followed for another duck. Anthony Molloy’s departure for 9 meant Maghull had lost half their side for just 24 runs. Shaun Hornby collected the visitor’s fifth duck of the day with the score on 29, with Harry Beddard responsible for 19 of the total runs. He was the seventh wicket to fall, departing for 33 from 70 deliveries. This left the scoreboard reading 48-7. Craig Black’s departure for 13, just the second Maghull batter to reach double figures, left Maghull 57-8. By the time Greg Coogan and Zack Benton had both departed for two each, Maghull were all out for 66. Stand in captain Paul McKenna was the unbeaten batter on 3*. The two Sutton opening bowlers, Andy Cowley and Nat Brown, bowled unchanged for 5-33 and 5-29 respectively.
Spirited Fightback Not Enough
Maghull showed considerable spirit and energy when it was their turn to bowl. The home side slumped to 28-4, with two wickets each for Black and Benton and three catches for McKenna. Two more wickets fell for a single run as Sutton went from 50-3 to 51-5. Molloy and Coogan each snared a scalp. But there were no further breakthroughs, as Sutton reached 69-6 from 20 overs to claim 25 points to Maghull’s three.
The result leaves Maghull in 10th place in the 1st Division, ten points ahead of Ainsdale. They lost by nine wickets at Northop Hall on Saturday. Next up for Maghull is a home game against second-placed Highfield, who have won their last three league games and are just a point behind Northop Hall.
Mixed Bag for the 2nd XI
It was a mixed weekend for the 2nd XI, who drew one and lost one of their two games. On Saturday, they drew with Rainhill at home. The visitors, asked to bat first by Maghull captain Joe Cunningham, recovered from 29-2 to eventually post 229-7 before declaring after 42.4 overs. Young Rowan Badger claimed 4-57 from his 11.4 overs. In reply, Maghull made 123-6 from 43 overs, with Chris King top scoring with an unbeaten 27 from 75 deliveries. Cunningham made 25 from 56 balls, while Liam Gibbons also chipped in with 24 from 29. On Sunday, the 2nd XI were blown away at Southport & Birkdale, losing by 119 runs. The home side made 206-6 from 40 overs, with Shaun Hornby claiming 3-59. In their reply, Maghull were shot out for 87 from 36.5 overs. Gibbons was the top scorer with 34, and Byron made 16, but no other Maghull batter reached double figures.
The nine points from the weekend have seen the 2nd XI move into eighth place in the 1st Division, 26 points clear of New Brighton in the drop zone. They travel to seventh-placed Southport Trinity on Saturday.
Draw for the 3rd XI
The 3rd XI drew for the third time in 2026, this time away at Wavertree 4th XI. Batting first, the visitors posted 159-8 from 53 overs. Chris Mawdesley top-scored with 36*, while opener Lewis Wells also made 32. Wavertree finished 100-4 from their 32 overs, with Lewis McDonald claiming 2-6 from his five overs. Maghull sit in sixth spot in the 1st Division, and welcome 2nd placed Sefton Park 4th XI to Moss Side on Saturday.
No Game Again for the 4th XI
The 4th XI’s game away at Whitefield sadly did not take place, as the home team were unable to raise a side. They will look to snap their four-week wait for a fixture this Sunday when they are set to visit Southport Trinity.
