A CENTURY partnership from Pat Leach and Adam Campion enabled Colwyn Bay to secure a draw at Liverpool and District Cricket League Premier Division title hopefuls Formby.

The in-form pair put on 103 for the fourth wicket to demote the early pacesetters to second place in the standings, and Sion Morris’ men will look to take this positive momentum into their tie at Bootle on Saturday.

Despite the creditable result, Bay began poorly with the bat as Karl Brown took out Zack Gidlow and Morris for 13 and a duck, while overseas star Dineth Hewathanthree made just one before he was clean bowled by Jackson Darkes-Surcliffe.

Opener Leach remained a consistent presence throughout during a critical stage, and he followed up last week’s century with a superb 90 until he played a Sabbir Patel delivery into the hands of Ollie Sutton.

He was aided at the other end by Campion, who also fell victim to Patel after contributing 66, but no other visiting batsman made it into double figures as they declared on 192-5 from 47 overs at the crease.

Things looked bleak for Bay due to an outstanding opening partnership from William Porterfield and skipper James Seward, who put on 101 for the first wicket before the former was despatched by Morris on 70.

Seward fell three runs shy of his half century thanks to a superb run out from Campion, while Morris and Paul Jenkins took out the dangerous duo of Sutton and Brown for two and 15 to give the away side a fighting chance.

An unbeaten 43 from Sam Oldham ensured a nervy end to proceedings, but the elements ensured that the hosts ran out of balls to achieve success and finished one run shy of their opponents in a controversial end to proceedings.

Chris Barry (81*) and Shaun Davies (91*) were the stars for Bay’s second unit in their 148-run win over Northop, with James Jones (5-15) and Michael Jennings (4-21) accounting for nine of the wickets.