Title hopes grow after hard fought victory

GRAPPENHALL strengthened their bid for the Vivio Cheshire County League first division title with a hard fought victory at Tattenhall.
Skipper Adam Roylance lost the toss and Grappenhall were asked to bat first – which clearly suited Roylance well as the opener hammered a brilliant 103, including 12 fours and two sixes. James McCoy offered good support with 31 and overseas player Ryan Ninan hit a blistering 71 not out from 46 balls to allow Grappers to declared on 263-6 off 45 overs.
This gave the hosts 55 overs to chase down the total and they made a good start with 17 overs going before they lost a wicket.
Roylance took a couple of wickets to swing the game Grapps’ way but a lengthy partnership of 126 for the fourth wicket left the game in the balance.  Tattenhall required 67 from 10 overs with seven wickets left so a Grappenhall victory looked increasingly unlikely.  But spin twins Roylance, with two more wickets, and Ninan, 3-70, turned the tide and pacemen Sam Guest and Gaz Burns returned to polish off the tail to give Grappers victory with an over to spare.
It was a great day for skipper Roylance with a century and 4-44 and with leaders Didsbury dropping points means the title could yet be in Grappers’ grasp.
Grappenhall 2nd lost at home to bottom-of-the-league Bramhall who posted 202-6 batting first – a total that should not have caused problems. But Grappers lost both openers cheaply and while Iain Wright scored an elegant 50 and middle order batsmen Matt Titchard and James Jenkinson contributed 30 each Grappers crumbled to lost by 40 runs – leaving their chances of promotion looking somewhat dented.
By contrast, Grappenhall 3rd won comfortable at relegation threatened Toft, bowling them out for 93 in 39 overs. Josh Hayes took 4-12. Grappers coasted home with 97-2, Dave Tully hitting 56 not out and Richard Holden 21.
Warrington got the better of a drawn game with Marple to keep them just above the relegation zone.
Batting first at Walton Lea they reached 1218-7, Huw Stone hitting 84, James Rudd 40 not out and Liam Heaphy 38.  Marple were 208-8 when the overs ran out which gave Warrington a useful 14 points from the game.
Brad McIntosh was the pick of their bowlers, taking 4-54.
Warrington 2nd were tumbled out for 74 at Nantwich, Isaac Webster scoring 31 of them. The home side coasted to 76-2.
In the Cheshire League, Lymm Oughtrington Park went down by three wickets at the hands of Barnton.
Lymm were all out for 1809 and the Northwich side replied with 184-7.
Stretton were humbled in the “derby” game at Appleton when they were dismissed for a meagre 48.  The home side knocked off the runs for the loss of one wicket.
The Stretton 2nd XI also lost when visiting Upton hit 213-8 and then bowled out Stretton for 128. Mark Owens and Mark Green took two wickets each for Stretton and Will Metcalf, 52 and S Ehmed, 26, were the pick of the batsmen.
Appleton 2nd lost by seven wickets at Upton, where they batted first and reached 177-6, Bob McDonald 63 and Ed Sygrove, 26. Michael Cumberland took 2-29 as Upton marched to 180-3.
Warrington 3rd were held to a draw at Oxton after batting first and reaching 229-6, Harry Kellett hitting a fine 101 not out and William Gilbert 49. Oxton were 191-8 at the close, Ray Soni taking 3-57 and Ben McCarthy 3-47 and Gilbert chipping in with 2-32..
In the Cheshire Alliance, Glazebury lost by four runs in an exciting encounter with Wistaston Village at Hurst lane.
The pace of skipper Sam Stanier, 8-27, had the visitors in trouble as they were bowled out for 104. But Glazebury were back in the pavilion for 100, with only Ian Black, 32 and Tom Wilkinson, 24, reaching double figures.
Glazebury 2nd totalled 111 at Bowdon Vale, Jordan Carroll 30 and Paul Warhurst 25. The home side cantered to 113-4.
Appleton 4th dismissed a depleted Styal side for 34, I Majib taking 4-15 and Daniel Hyatt 3-16. Appleton coasted to 35-1.