NORTHOP skipper Bart Ryan-Beswick isn’t ruling any of the top-five out of the North Wales Cricket League Premier Division title race.

A thrilling campaign is nearing its conclusion, with five games left, and the gap between front-runners Northop and fifth-placed Mochdre is just 35 points.

Ahead of tomorrow’s home clash with Gresford, he said: “We’ve got five to go and it’s going to be a heck of a finish.

“I wouldn’t count anybody out. Gresford are dangerous and you never know what they’re going to turn up with.”

Things weren’t straight-forward as Northop bagged their 12th triumph of the campaign with a three-wicket win over Llandudno last time out - and Ryan-Beswick was surprised to be taking to the field first!

“To be honest, I lost the toss and I was expecting them to stick us in,” he added.

“It was very green and it did quite a lot early on.

“We got over the line, but we didn’t bat particularly well.

“Henry Dowd dug in for 30-odd and Andy Poynton and Marlon Barclay used their experience, but it was nervy.”

Jordan Evans is back in the side while Ben Beaver (pictured above) and Ryan-Beswick are both unavailable.

This means Tom Hughes will captain Northop.

Two chances of silverware have gone for Brymbo, whose sights are now firmly focused on the title.

Dan Parry’s side were pipped by St Asaph in the final of the Flintshire knockout competition, while they lost at holders Swansea in the semi-finals of the Welsh Cup.

Now, it’s all about the league for Brymbo, who are 14 points adrift of Northop and they will be aiming to eat into this deficit in tomorrow’s trip to defending champions Menai Bridge, who sit fourth.

Second-placed St Asaph host a Halkyn side who are just 14 points clear of the relegation zone.

The battle to beat the drop is also a fierce one and Pontblyddyn will be aiming to build on last weekend’s victory over Mold when they host Mochdre.

Mold will look to bounce back as they pay a visit to Denbigh and the remaining match is at Bangor, where Llandudno are the visitors.

Four more wins this year will make sure of the Division One crown from the perspective of Gwersyllt Park.

However, the race for that solitary promotion spot will be thrown wide open if the leaders lose out tomorrow.

In the biggest game of the season so far, second-placed Hawarden Park have home advantage against Gwersyllt Park.

Victory for the Hawarden outfit would move them to within touching distance of their opponents with four games remaining, while an away triumph would all-but wrap-up the title.

Northop Seconds are still in with a shot of winning the division and they go to Bethesda while it’s still all to play for towards the foot of the standings.

Buckley and Llay could still haul themselves out of the bottom-three and they meet in a huge clash at The Ring.

Marchwiel and Wrexham could be relegated if they’re defeated at Abergele and Connah’s Quay, still with an outside chance of the title, need to win at Conwy.

Other fixture: Dolgellau v Menai Bridge 2nds.

Division Two: Bersham v Llanrwst; Brymbo 2nds v Hawarden Park 2nds; Buckley 2nds v Bangor 2nds; Gresford 2nds v St Asaph 2nds; Mochdre 2nds v Carmel & District; Mold 2nds v Pontblyddyn 2nds.

Division Three: Connah’s Quay 2nds v Caernarfon; Gwersyllt Park 2nds v Corwen; Llandudno 2nds v Denbigh 2nds; Ruthin v Conwy 2nds; Mynydd Isa & Maeshafn v Bethesda 2nds.

Division Four: Halkyn 2nds v Carmel & District 2nds; Llanrwst 2nds v Ruthin 2nds; Marchwiel and Wrexham 2nds v Abergele 2nds; Pwllheli v Bersham 2nds.

A repeat result is what Chirk are looking for as they again take on a side above them in the Shropshire League Division One rankings.

Inspired by an Andrew Swarbrick six-for in the win over Frankton, Chirk, who are fifth, host third-placed Newtown.

There’s a North Wales derby for Northop Hall in the Liverpool Competition tomorrow as they head to Prestatyn.

Welsh Fire Women face London Spirit in Cardiff on Sunday looking to stay top in The Hundred competition. Southern Brave could overtake them if they beat Oval Invincibles tomorrow.

London Spirit face Northern Superchargers in both formats today while Trent Rockets play Birmingham Phoenix tomorrow and Manchester Originals take on the Superchargers on Sunday.

Glamorgan are back in One Day Cup action on Sunday at Somerset while Lancashire visit Middlesex.

Sunday’s other ties: Kent v Essex; Leicestershire v Yorkshire; Surrey v Hampshire; Northamptonshire v Derbyshire; Warwickshire v Durham; Worcestershire v Sussex. Today: Derbyshire v Worcestershire; Sussex v Gloucestershire; Warwickshire v Northamptonshire; Leicestershire v Middlesex.