IF Grappenhall fail to win promotion to the top flight of Cheshire cricket this summer, they will probably be able to blame the part the weather played in their drawn game against Bollington at Broad Lane.
Ten overs were lost to rain and with the visitors struggling on 129-8, Grappers were almost certainly heading for victory.
Winning the toss and batting first, Grappenhall posted a useful 204-9, opener Richard Green hitting 50, Luke McCoy 32 Ian Wright 24 and James McCoy 29.
Bollington were soon in trouble at 31-2 but never made much effort to challenge the target. Ian Hall and skipper Steve Titchard were both among the wickets, Hall taking 5-52 and Titchard 3-31.
Grappenhall took 16 points from the game but slipped to third place in the Chapel Press Cheshire County League first division table because close rivals Macclesfield won. However, leaders Widnes lost badly so the title chase is still very much a three-horse race.
Grappenhall 2nd were at nearest promotion rivals Brooklands where the weather reduced the game to 31 overs per side.
The home side elected to bat first and were took in trouble at 9-3. The middle-order staged something of a fight back but eventually they were all out for 84, Matthew Titchard bowling unchanged to take 5-30, Sam Guest 2-8 and Albert Pennington 2-21.
Grappenhall also started badly, slumping to 10-3 in nine overs. But veterans Neil Titchard and Mike Holden dug in and added 55 before Titchard fell to a neat catch for 12.
Skipper Holden carried on and ended unbeaten on 50 to earn Grappenhall a priceless 25 points.
They now need just 18 points to secure promotion – which they hope to get on Saturday.
Grappenhall 3rd put visiting Toft in on a windy day and restricted them 145-7, Jack Critchley taking 2-23 and Neil Muttock 2-6. Grappenhall’s reply started promisingly with openers Mark Tyerman and Tom Hulme putting 22 on the board before Tyerman had to retire hurt for 18.
Hulme went on to score 56 and Sam Baxter, 28 and Critchley, 23 not out took Grappers to 149-2 and earned them 20 points.
In the Meller Braggins Cheshire League, Lymm Oughtrington Park won a low-scoring match against Over People by just three runs.
Batting first, Lymm were dismissed for 90 and a difficult, damp wicket. But the visitors were bowled out for 87.
Lymm Oughtrington Park 2nd raced to a 10-wicket victory at Over People, dismissing the home side for 77 and then cantering to 81 without loss.
Stretton were denied victory against Alderley Park.
After batting first and posting 168, they were held up by the Alderley last pair who hung on at 146-9.
In the Cheshire Alliance, Rylands chalked up a useful win at Haslington, batting first and totalling 163-6. Richard Buck top scored with 82 and Eddie Platt hit 29.
Sean Malone took 6-68 as the home side were dismissed for 154.
Appleton were denied victory by the weather at Wilmslow. Batting first, Appleton amassed 225-2 declared, in-form Richard Clarke hitting 82, David Hurst 79 and E Rashid 43 not out. Wilmslow were 58-2 when the rain came.
Appleton 2nd were defeated for the second time this season by Capenhurst.
Batting first at Lyons Lane, Appleton reached 150-4, Gareth Bailey 31, Eddie Barlow 30, Stuart Macgregor 29 not out and Will Ralston 23 not out. The visitors started badly, losing three quick wickets. But then they rallied and ended up on 151-7. Duane Jones took 2-45, Chris Tomlinson 2-43 and Phil Jackson 2-21.
Appleton 3rd slumped to a heavy defeat entertaining Langley, who batted first and hit 194-7. Paul Grumley bowled well to take 6-87. But Appleton were tumbled out for 63.
Glazebury’s promotion drive was hindered by the weather at Kerridge.
After they had set a challenging target of 222-5, Dave mason 42, Wayne Hargreaves 51, Jack Warhurst 61 not out and Simon Green 34 not out, the home side were struggling at 91-4 when the rain came. Chris Ayre took 2-17.
Women’s cricket
APPLETON clinched the treble in Cheshire women’s cricket when they beat Chester Boughton Hall with one ball to spare in the final of the Cheshire Women’s League Twenty20 competition at Macclesfield.
After two previous Chester-Appleton T20 encounters this season that have gone to the last ball, this again provided a superb finish.
Chester began to accelerate from the fifth to the tenth over via Nicky Deane (25 retired) and Ali Cutler (21). But after that, Appleton pegged them back, and took regular wickets, as Chester closed on 84-8.
Appleton’s high fielding standards may have played a crucial part in the outcome of the match. Anni Rashid recorded the superb figures of 4-7 from three overs bowled at the death.Excellent bowling in the first six overs of the reply from Lorna Thomas and Kate Coppack saw Appleton score only eight runs.
But Appleton built the innings well from here, with Emma Barlow making 26 retired and cameos from Wendy Lee and Anni Rashid.
Chester fought to the last, with Annette Axon taking 3-15, including only one run from the penultimate over.
But it was Jen Regan’s composure that saw her side over the line to a five wicket win.
Appleton had clinched the Cheshire Women’s League title the previous week, and earlier in the season won the league knockout competition.
