LIFE is getting tougher for Grappenhall at the top of the Chapel Press Cheshire County League.
Grappers went down by seven wickets to closest rivals Widnes at Broad Lane – a result that put Widnes on top of the table by eight points – the first time since the start of the season that Grappenhall has not occupied the top spot.
Grappenhall, batting first, totalled 174, losing a wicket with the first ball of the innings and then seeing several batsmen get themselves out. Only left hander Iain Wright, with 53, offered much resistance. Then the normally formidable Grappenhall bowling attack was put to the sword as Widnes raced to 176-3 in just 27 overs.
The team also bowed out of the national knock out competition against a Bamford Fieldhouse side which, like Grappenhall, contained two former Lancashire players.
Grappenhall were put into bat on good pitch and made a lively start with James McCoy making a rapid 30 in the first five overs. The innings continued at a good pace with Richard Green hitting a magnificent 90. Grappers set the home side a challenging target of 233.
The Bamford side set about the task in a steady fashion, the main turning point in the game coming when former Lancashire all-rounder Simon Marshall was dropped on 18. He then went on to make 92. Grappenhall made Bamford work hard with some good bowling and fielding but unfortunately it was the other former Lancashire player Paddy Mckeown who saw the home side to victory with two overs to spare.
Grappenhall 2nd also went down – but only by a margin of four runs at Sale.
The home side were dismissed for a modest 155, Sam Guest taking 3-34 and Andy Tetlow 4-47. Grappers replied with 151, Ian Hall top scoring with 62 and Bradley Angel hitting 28.
Grappenhall 3rd enjoyed a good win against Upton, however. Batting first they set a formidable target of 260-3, Jamie Bye hitting 56, Mike Moss 94, Sam Baxter 58 not out and Neil Muttock 42 not out.
Upton fought hard in reply but were dismissed for 188, Baxter returning figures of 4-41 and Tom Hulme 3-24.
Warrington got the better of a hard-fought draw at Bradbury St Marks. Batting first they amassed 297-7, James Hughes hitting 90 and Malcolm Agar 79. Bredbury responded in kind, finishing on 271-7, despite some good bowling from Robert Batey, 3-86, Steve Heydon, 2-57 and Ryan Swart 2-55.
Warrington 4th suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of Upton who hammered 203-4 and then bowled Warrington out for 56.
Glazebury’s title bid in the Cheshire Alliance stayed on course with a great win over Mossley at Hurst Lane.
It was a victory which at one time looked highly unlikely. The visitors batted first and totalled 203, despite the best efforts of Sam Stanier, 3-50, David Acton 3-59 and Kyle Keeble, 2-21.
Glazebury got off to a disastrous start after tea, slumping to 9-3 at one stage and then to 56-4.
But a magnificent 122 not out from Ian McCue, with some good support from skipper Wayne Hargreaves, 25 not out and Chris Lord, 30 enabled them to reach 204-4.
There was a century in the 2nd XI game too – a derby clash at Appleton.
Club chairman Paul Warhurst hammered 111 as Glazebury hit a formidable 250. Dean Lord offered good support with 44. Stuart Bate, with 6-66 was the picked of the Appleton bowlers.
Appleton were then dismissed for 174, Chris McClellan hitting 31 and Gareth Bailey 37. Matthew Shailer took 5-14 and Stewart Caller 3-47.
Appleton’s 1st XI seem to have run into some form after their poor start to the season. They picked up their win on the run at Wilmslow Wayfarers, restricting the home side to 137-9, Tom Lomas 5-41 and Duane Jones 3-23.
Appleton replied with 138-5, Andrew Tyrer top scoring with 52 and Lomas round off a good all-round performance with 32.
The ultimate local derby game is Appleton 3rd v Appleton 4th – and the 4th team emerged triumphant with a little help from the Appleton women’s team skipper Emma Barlow!
The 3rd XI batted first and were dismissed for a dismal 84, with Mike Ormson, Ben Swannell and Aamir Rashid each taking three wickets.
Mike Jones took a couple of early wickets to reduce the 4th XI to 16-2 but Stuart McIntosh and Emma Barlow then batted the 4ths to victory by eight wickets.
Rylands 2nd defeated Chelford by two wickets largely due to a fine all-round performance from G Sujith.
First he took 5-40 as Chelford were dismissed for 142 and then he hit 53 as Rylands replied with 143-8. Sean Peters hit 30.
Women’s cricket
WARRINGTON hoisted themselves off the bottom of the national league with a 45-run victory over fellow-strugglers Meir Heath.
Batting first Warrington reached a formidable 246-8, Hannah Gradwell hitting 53, Jennie Kitzinger 65 and Lorna Thomas 47.
Meir Heath were dismissed for 201, with Natalie Lyons taking 5-39 and Lorna Thomas 2-32.
In the Cheshire Women’s League, Appleton made it six wins from six games to stay on top.
They defeated title holders Poynton by 19 runs.
Anni Rashid top scored with 30 as Appleton hit 169 and then Chloe Page, 3-29 and Jen Regan, 3-41 helped dismiss Poynton for 150.
