ST ASAPH rounded off the North Wales Cricket League Premier Division season with a narrow one-wicket home defeat at the hands of Northop.

The one-time title hopefuls have endured a disappointing end to a campaign that promised much at one stage, and the Saints eventually finished in sixth position in the standings following their tenth defeat in 22 league contests.

Skipper Will Ryan and brother Mathew opened the batting and made 27 and 36 respectively before they were both ousted from the crease by James Birch, with Danny Ryan caught off a Tom Blackwell delivery after contributing 39.

Jason Foulkes produced an impressive knock of 44 soon after, but he became Blackwell’s latest victim during a critical stage of the innings.

The home side saw their middle and lower decimated by the strong visiting bowling attack, with Mike Thompson (5), David North (0), Andrew Bellis (0) and Richard Aram (0) all dismissed cheaply to completely undo their good start in the middle.

Amer Jamil provided some respite with a 16 knock as the hosts set a target of 183-9 from their allotted 50 overs and the same player got them off to a positive opening in the field with the early wickets of Harry Lewis and Matthew Williams for 13 and four.

Things looked promising as Danny Ryan removed the dangerous Jordan Evans for 39 and Ben Beaver (0) on his way to figures of 3-30, with Blackwell skittled by North after making a promising 21.

That was as good as it got for the home side, with an unbeaten 37 from wicketkeeper Danny Nicholson enough to get the visitors’ over the line with one wicket and three overs to spare despite two late wickets from standout Jason Foulkes.