RAIN virtually wiped out cricket in the Warrington area – but in doing so did Grappenhall a favour.
Their crunch game at home to high-flyers Nantwich was the only match to get started – and was washed out when things were not looking good for the Broad Lane outfit.
Nantwich had hammered 201-4 declared and Grappers were struggling at 31-3 when the rain finally won the day.
But the seven points Grappers picked up virtually assures them their ECB Premier Division place in the Vivio Cheshire County League next season.
They are currently two places above relegation and 19 points clear, which means they only need to pick up six points from their final match at Timperley to stay up.
Relegation rivals Hyde will be at newly-crowned champions Chester Boughton Hall and anything short of a win would condemn them to the drop regardless of how Grappenhall’s game goes.
The weather was even more kind to Grappenhall 2nd.
They were due to visit promotion rivals Warrington at Walton Lea but the game was called off without a ball being bowled.
This guaranteed Grappers promotion and even an outside chance of snatching the title.
They are three points behind top-of-the-table Oulton Park and each play teams that are already relegated.
But regardless of the final outcome, it has been an excellent season for the 2nd XL.
On Sunday, the weather relented enough for Grappenhall’s Over 40s team – including former England star Neil Fairbrother and ex-Lancashire batsman Richard Green – to win the Cheshire County League Over 40s cup for the first time.
They defeated Toft in the final at Chester, restricting them to 86-8 with Ben Clissold, Ben Cagna and Mike Holden taking two wickets each.
Iain Wright hit 30, before retiring under the rules of the competition and then Green, 21 not out and Fairbrother, 8 not out, took Grappers to 87-2, Green hitting the winning runs with a massive six.
