ASHTON on Mersey’s 100 per cent record start to the season came to an end in a rain-ruined game at Runcorn.

Choosing to bowl first, Ashton found the home openers in fine form as they posted 50 for the first wicket before the introduction of Graeme Thomason saw Ryan Beech dismissed for 33.

With Thomason bowling in tandem with spinner Mike Roberts the Runcorn middle order struggled. With Thomason aggressive and threatening and Roberts bowling at his probing best, the home batsmen crumbled to a disappointing 128 all out (Roberts 5-18, Thomason 4-62).

With Ashton optimistic that the total was well within reach of their powerful batting line up the dark clouds gave a warning of what was to come. Ashton lost three wickets for 38 in pushing for quick runs before the heavens opened to bring the match to a premature conclusion.

Ashton will be hoping that cricket fortunes smile more readily on them next week when they welcome Mobberley to the Beets.

The Ashton 2nd XI fared even worse in their game against Runcorn 2nds, with the match being abandoned without a ball bowled.