Relegation zone too close for comfort

WARRINGTON picked up a useful win in their Vivio Cheshire County League game at Tattenhall – but the result still left them ninth in the division one table, nine points above the relegation zone.
Batting first, they reached a modest 149 with several batsmen getting started but no going on to make a big score. Brad McIntosh hit 27, Will Fleetwood 25, Malcolm Agar 23 and Alan Green 23.
It did not look a winning total but the home side collapsed to 89 all out, Rob Batey taking 3-12 and Ashley Scholes, James Rudd and McIntosh picking up two wickets each.
Grappenhall’s hopes of a speedy return to the Premier division took a knock when they went down heavily against Davenham at Broad Lane.
The visitors hit 237-6 with Alex Matthews the pick of the bowlers with 3-63 and Sam Guest 2-58 – including one of the openers with the first ball of the match.
Grappers’ reply started promisingly with James M cCoy, 48 and Adam Roylance, 22, taking the score to 59 without loss. But the introduction of spin brought about a collapse to 133 all out.
It was a disappointing result that leaves Grappers third in the table, one point behind second placed Weaverham, who they play next week.
Grappenhall 2nd won by a massive 244 runs at Davenham after batting first and hammering 315-6 in 48 overs. Eighteen-year-old Albert Pennington fell just two runs short of his maiden century with the club, Iain Wright hit a fine 75 and Bel Clissold hammered 53 from just 17 balls.
Davenham subsided to 71 all out thanks to fine bowling from John Hayes, 4, Arran McCabe, 2 and Arthur Pennington, 2.
Grappenhall 3rd’s game the following day was eventually abandoned to the weather with Grappers on 133-5, Albert Pennington hitting his second half-century of the weekend.
In the Cheshire League, Lymm Oughtrington Park travelled to Irby and inflicted a humiliating defeat on the home side.
Lymm batted first and totalled 171, Jonathan Fletcher 80 not out and Shahead Butt 53.Irby were tumbled out for a meagre 28. The result leaves Lymm fourth position in their first season in the division one table.
Appleton won by five wickets at Sandbach, dismissing the home side for 94, Tom Lucas taking 4-27 and Kanthiraj Gavaskar 3-24.
Appleton replied with 95-5, Kanthiraj Vensarkar 30 and Rick Clarke 24 not out.
In the Cheshire Alliance, Glazebury’s improved form continued with a 42-run victory at home to Holmes Chapel.
Solid batting took Glazebury to 140-9, Dave Mason 26, Tom Wilkinson 23, Jack Warhurst 21. The visitors were bowled out for 101 after moving to 64 without losing a wicket. Sam Stanier took 4-22 and Hakeem Dahou 5-34.
Glazebury 2nd’s batting woes continued, however, when they were bowled out for 49 against Appleton 4th. Jordan Carroll top scored with 23 while Peter Hesford, 6-24 and Paul Grumley, 3-9, did the damage. Appleton hit off the runs for the loss of two wickets, Mike Wharton hitting 44 not out.
Rylands went down by 44 runs at table-topping Rostherne, who batted first and totalled 151. Rylands were all out for 107, Phil Mansfield hitting 57 snd Steve Howarth 25 not out.