Grappers in nail-biting finish

AFTER a nail-biting finish, Grappenhall snatched victory at Marple to move just 10-points shy of leaders Hyde in the ECB premier division of the Vivio Cheshire County League.
Grappenhall are now second in the league’s top tier at the half-way stage of the season – an unprecedented position for a side which only a couple of years back found life too hot to handle in the premier division.
The win at Marple had much to do with the return to fitness of Aussie all-rounder Josh McClelland, who has been suffering from a nagging injury for some weeks.
First he took 5-83 as Marple reached 195-7. Then he hit 53 as Grappenhall replied. There were useful innings also from Albert Pennington, 29, Ben Bodha 28 and Ian Barnes, 27. But when the ninth wicket fell, Grappers were still seven runs short of victory. Tension was high in the pavilion but last pair Sam Baxter and Sam Guest calmly hit a boundary each to reach the target.
Grappenhall 2nd were held to a draw by Marple at Broad Lane, batting first and amassing 233-8, Iain Wright hammering an unbeaten 118 and Matt Brown contributing 31. Marple were never in the chase but held on at 142-8, Jack Critchley taking 3-25.
But Grappenhall 3rd went down by five wickets against Middlewich and are now in a fight to avoid relegation. They recovered from 68-5 to reach 158-8, Paul Tyerman hitting 50 and Matt Brown 47. But this proved not enough as Middlewich cantered to victory.
Warrington went down heavily at Walton Lea after visitors Weaverham slammed 250-6 despite Kyle Adams taking 4-87. Warrington were bowled out for 157, with Brad McIntosh top scoring with 34.
Warrington 2nd won by 21 runs at Timperley after batting first and reaching 219. The home side were dismissed for 198.
David Lee took 5-23 as Warrington 4th raced to a nine wicket victory over Irby. Hethen hit 21 to help Harry Kellett, 38 not out and Les Connolly, 20 not out take Warrington to 99-1.
In the Cheshire Alliance, Appleton defeated Wilmslow by four wickets at Lyons Lane after the visitors had been bowled out for 156, Neil Thompson taking 4-41, Tom Lomas 2-53 and Anny Oliver 2-26. Appleton made 158-6, Thompson top scoring with 42 not out and Ali Sharif hitting 39.
A depleted Appleton 3rd were bowled out for 57 at Stalybridge St Pauls, John Ormson contributing 21 of them and the home side hit off the runs for the loss of four wickets, three of them going to Mike Ambrose at a cost of 52 runs.
Appleton 4th totalled 134 against visiting Capenhurst who then coasted to victory on 135-4
Glazebury’s revival continued with a five wicket win against Holmes Chapel at Hurst Lane.
The visitors were bowled out for 145, Dave Acton taking 7-31 and Sam Stanier 3-48. Glazebury got off to a terrible start but recovered from 51-5 with skipper Jack Warhurst hitting 58 not out and Dean Lord 54 not out to take the score to 148-5.
Glazebury 2nd wohn at Audlem where Gerard Southworth took 4-15, Chris Ayre 2-39 and Ian Black 2-3 as the home side were dismissed for 153. Dave Mason hammered 71 as Glazebury replied with 157-6.
Stretton 2nd had an exciting win at Rostherne where the home side hit 141-9, G Stone 4-28. Stretton’s last pair were at the wicket when victory came, J Large 34 and Ben Bravington 25 being the main scorers.