A MAJOR shake-up of cricket clubs in the Warrington area will take place when the new season starts on April 22 following an amalgamation of two Cheshire leagues.
The town’s top teams – Grappenhall and Warrington – will hardly be affected as they both play in the elite Vivio Cheshire County League.
But smaller clubs across the borough will find themselves playing in the new Cheshire Cricket League – an amalgamation of the former Cheshire Cricket League and the Cheshire Alliance.
The merger follows the demise of a number of smaller clubs across the county and should produce a strong league and, it is hoped, reduce the number of 2nd and 3rd XI games which have to be cancelled because one or other of the clubs could not raise a team.
Lymm Oughtrington Park will continue to play in division one of the new combined league. But there are no other Warrington sides in the division, nor in division two. Appleton and Stretton will both play in division three while Glazebury and Rylands will play in division 4.
A separate structure will cater for 2nd XIs and for clubs with more than two teams. Lymm Oughtrington Park 2nd will play in division A while Appleton 2nd, Stretton 2nd and Warrington 3rd will play in division B West.
Appleton 3rd and 4th XI s, Glazebury 2nd, Rylands 2nd and Warrington 4th will play in division C east/north.
The new structure will allow successful clubs to progress up the various divisions and, if they have adequate ground facilities, be promoted to the Cheshire County League.
