TITLE RACE UPDATE… How Ormskirk can win the league tomorrow, and how Northern can take advantage if they don’t


ECB Premier Division title race
| Club | Points | Sep 14 | Sep 20 | Wins | BatP | BowlP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ormskirk | 391 | BPK (a) | 14 | 75 | 31 | |
| Northern | 373 | WIG (h) | 13 | 75 | 33 |
Only two games produced results in the Love Lane Liverpool Competition’s top flight on Saturday… and both had a huge impact on the title race.
Leaders and defending champions Ormskirk beat Wallasey by 68 runs, meaning Northern had to beat Rainford to stay in the race.
And they did, by 45 runs, meaning the last round of fixtures will be decisive.
Thanks to Ormskirk’s trip to Lord’s on Saturday, September 20, for the ECB National Club Championship final against Penzance, they have to play their last league game at Birkenhead Park on Sunday, six days before the scheduled fixture.
That means Northern will go into their last game, at home to Wigan, knowing exactly what will be required.
If Ormskirk win or pick up at least eight points on Sunday, they are champions. But with the weather forecast looking grim, that could prove a tall order.
A washout will mean five points for Ormskirk, extending their lead to 23 points.
If two sides finish level on points, the tiebreakers are wins, then batting points, then bowling points.
Northern are currently one behind on wins – but for them to have a chance, they have to draw level in that column. So in the event of a tie on points, bonus points will be come into play – and if Ormskirk’s game is washed out, Northern have the advantage.