COLWYN Bay remain in the Liverpool and District Cricket Competition Premier Division relegation places after a 126-run home reverse to Ormskirk.

A difficult start to the campaign continued for Sion Morris’ side at Penrhyn Avenue thanks to another disappointing batting display, and they are now 20 points away from safety ahead of their home clash with Wallasey on Saturday.

The home side got off to a good start in the field when Ryan Holtby removed opener John Armstrong for five, with George Johansen ousting the dangerous duo of Tyler McGladdery and Alan Rankin for 26 and five respectively.

George Lavell proved to be a far sterner proposition to dispose of, with the talented batsman hitting eight boundaries before he was skittled by Paul Jenkins after making a superb 78.

Overseas player Saliya Jeewantha aided Bay’s cause with the wickets of Gary Knight (34) and Robert Rankin (0) to finish the day on 2-52, but unbeaten knocks of 33 and 30 from Tom Hartley and Ryan Maddock enabled the away side to declare on 220-7 from 54 overs.

Things did not begin well for the hosts in the middle as Zack Gidlow (8), Ryan Westwell (12) and Johansen (8), were all dismissed cheaply early on, and skipper Morris falling foul of a successful lbw appeal by Scott Lees after failing to contribute a single run.

This trend continued throughout the middle order as Will Higginson (1), Jeewantha (3) and Mike Littler (12) all failed to trouble the scoreboard, and despite Holtby hitting 22 late on it was not enough to prevent defeat as the home side made 94 all out in reply.

Hartley was the pick of the visiting attack, finishing with figures of 3-28, with Nicky Caunce, Ryan Maddock and Lees claiming a pair of scalps apiece.