Northop Hall remain in pole position to claim the Liverpool Competition Second Division title after easing to a seven-wicket win at Maghull.

Led by teenage stand-in skipper Alistair Andrady, Hall’s bowlers immediately got stuck into the Maghull openers as Jack Billington (1-44) and Daniel Clubbe (4-36 off 12 overs) helped reduce the hosts to 81 for six.

However, the hosts provided some stubborn resistance through Josh Mahoney with a quickfire 42 and Anthony Molloy Snr who struck a 52-ball 59, to lead a recovery of sorts to 176 all out off 39.2 overs.

Captain Andrady’s younger brother Joshua got rid of the lower order with an impressive 4-14 off his 7.2 overs, James Hurlin also claiming a wicket.

Hurlin then struck a superb unbeaten 83 off 145 balls to anchor Hall’s reply, and found support from Joshua Andrady (28) and Ben Slater (27) as the visitors sauntered to victory on 178 for three in the 43rd over, extending their lead at the top to 16 points over Caldy.

Hall are a further eight points ahead of Sutton St Helens who lie third and the Flintshire side are well placed to secure promotion back into the second tier.