GRAPPENHALL’S drive for promotion to the top flight of Cheshire cricket continued with a fine win over struggling Irby at Broad Lane.
Winning the toss, Grappenhall skipper Steve Titchard elected to bat on an excellent wicket, knowing the visitors would have to chase any total set as they battle to get away from the division one relegation zone.
A first wicket partnership of 44 between Adam Roylance and Richard Green gave Grappenhall a solid start, before Adam was out for a brisk 24. Enter former Test batsman Neil Fairbrother in only his second 1st team appearance of the season, and almost immediately the whole tempo of the innings changed.
Neil took the Irby attack on, and raced to a superb 50 in only 46 deliveries, while former Lancashire batsman Richard played “second fiddle” at the other end. Neil continued to dominate, and with a wide array of shots, characterised by superb timing and placement, went on to reach his century, before finally being out for 110 off only 85 balls(16 fours and two sixes). It was an innings of pure class, and was warmly applauded by a good crowd who witnessed what was a display of both authority and clinical stroke play, in a second wicket partnership of 148.
Luke McCoy fell quickly, followed soon after by Richard Green who by then had compiled a solid 58. It was then Jimmy McCoy,(28) and Andy Tetlow,(18), who in an unbroken partnership of 39 in just four overs, took the total to a daunting 249-4 declared in 45 overs, giving Grappenhall the extra overs if needed to bowl the visitors out.
Grappenhall opened with Dean Riches and Ian Hall, with Ian making the initial breakthrough, with veteran keeper Tony McCoy taking a sharp chance. Ian then took the second wicket through a brilliant catch at second slip by Fairbrother.
Skipper Titchard then came on and immediately struck in his first over, with a good catch at slip by Green. Thereafter with Ian bowling unchanged in tandem with the skipper, Irby’s innings crumbled to 96 in the 32nd over. Ian finished a fine spell bowling with good pace, with 5-32 off 13.4 over’s, while Steve as economical as ever took 4-20 in nine overs.
With other results going Grappenhall’s way, Grappenhall’s 25 points lifted them back into second place and, with three games remaining, well placed to make their promotion bid a reality.
Grappenhall 2nd travelled to Irby, also looking for maximum points to maintain their own promotion push.
Skipper Mike Holden elected to bat first and openers Ian Wright and Will Sharp put on 56 for the first wicket. The skipper came in to take the score to 140 before another wicket fell and then Neil Tichard hit a useful 34 not out to take the score to 200-7 and maximum points.
Irby were bowled out for 120 with Same Guest taking 4-21, Matt Titchard 2-24 and Albert Pennington 2-16.
The result keeps Grappers in second place with three games to go.
Grappenhall 3rd travelled to Nantwich and chose to bowl first. They got off to a terrific starts as Nantwich struggled to 14-4. But the later batsmen rallied and the side eventually reached 177-9.
Jack Critchley took 4-30 and Paul Tyerman 2-13.
Grappenhall’s reply got off to a bad start but Tom Hulme, 39 and Neil Muttock, 46 not out, helped take the score to 139-8 to earn a draw.
Warrington, lying third in the second division and also pushing for promotion, won by 49 runs at Ashton-on-Mersey.
Batting first they scored a modest 145-5, Thomas Clutterbuck 40, Dan Pascoe 43 not out. But this proved enough as the home side were dismissed for 96, Steve Heydon taking 3-25, Pascoe 3-12 and Matt Adams 3-21.
In the Cheshire Alliance, Glazebury maintained their promotion drive with a seven wicket victory over Holmes Chapel at Hurst Lane.
The visitors were tumbled out for 58, Rhys Marsh taking 3-13, Sam Stanier 3-37 and Jon Gibbons 3-2. Glazebury cantered to victory at 59-3, Ian McCue hitting an unbeaten 24, Dave Mason 18 and skipper Wayne Hargreaves 12.
Glazebury 2nd went down by four wickets at Styal where the home side bowled them ouot for 122, Mike Stonehouse 30, Steve Pilditch 22.
Styal replied with 123-6, Shaun Conroy taking 2-22.
Appleton had a good win over Haslington at Lyons Lane, batting first and totalling 195-3. Richard Clark hit his fourth 50 in four weeks and shared in a century opening partnership with Dave Hurst, 55. Chris Grumley hit 38 not out and Eitchy Rashid 32.
Haslington were dismissed for 136, Tom Lomas taking 5-32 and Chris Tomlinson 2-38.
Appleton 2nd lost out at Wistaston, where the home side totalled a modest 131, with Stuart Bate taking 4-40. Appleton were then bowled out for 67 with only two players getting into double figures.
Short of bowlers, Appleton 3rd conceded a formidable total of 182-6 at Heaton Mersey Village and were then dismissed for 97, Dave Darbyshire’s 19 being the top score.
Appleton 4th dug in to earn a respectable draw at home against a strong Chelford side. A thin bowling attack couldn’t quell the Chelford order as they posted a formidable 228-4. A few silly run outs hampered the Appleton reply but a brutal 40 from Andy Wood helped Appleton to 172-8 before the overs ran out.
In the Meller Braggins Cheshire League, Lymm Oughtrington Park bowled out Bowdon Vale for a paltry 58 and then coasted to 59 without loss.
The Lymm 2nd XI also enjoyed a big win, hitting 181-6 declared against Cheadle Hulme Ladybridge and then dismissing the opposition for 86.
Women’s cricket
A MASSIVE victory over outgoing champions Poynton saw Appleton clinch their first ever Cheshire Women’s League title.
Captain Emma Barlow again led the way with 103, her second successive century, and Jenna Mape made 52 in a first division record total of 266-4.
Poynton folded to 94 all out in reply against the likes of Ellie Barnett who took three wickets for three runs.
Rebecca Platt top scored for Poynton with 36.
The result left Appleton 43 points clear of nearest rivals Oakmere with one game still to play.
Bank Holiday Monday will see Appleton visit Macclesfield for the Cheshire Cup final.
They will meet either Poynton or Chester Boughton Hall.
Warrington’s season in ECB Premier League North ended with a comprehensive defeat to champions Ransome and Marles, who fielded five internationals.
Warrington made good inroads into the Ransome batting early on, but from 74-4, there followed a stand of 100 between former England wicketkeeper Jane Smit and Sarah Daman-Willems, with both starting slowly, but going on to build excellent innings of 50 and 42 respectively.
There were more quick runs in the closing overs from Jenny Gunn, another international. The wickets were spread around the Warrington bowlers, but the two youngest, Jemma Bentley and Mary Priestner were perhaps the best.
Warrrington crumbled to 11-3 in reply, and the remainder of the match was played out in a somewhat low-key atmosphere. Best figures for Ransome were returned by Sonia Odedra (3-15), Rebecca Widdowson (2-10) and Lucy Doolan (2-16).
Warrington finished fifth of the six teams in the league.
