Grappers pick up a much-needed victory

GRAPPENHALL’S batsmen at last showed something like their true potential as they picked up a much-needed win in the Cheshire County League.
The 48-run victory over third placed Neston did not lift Grappers from the bottom place in the ECB Premier League, but it narrowed the gap over the clubs immediately above them and gives them a fighting chance of getting out of the relegation zone.
Grappenhall batted first at Broad Lane, with a  rejigged the batting order and posted an impressive 232-3.
Arthur Pennington top scored with an unbeaten 65, Pete Barnes hit 52, Albert Pennington, 43 and Ben Bodha 41 not out.
Given a decent total to bowl at, the bowlers also came good with Raki Rao taking 4-33, Arran McCabe 3-45 and Adam Roylance 3-38 as Neston were dismissed for 184.
All in all it was an excellent performance which should restore the confidence that seemed to have been missing in recent weeks.
Grappenhall 2nd were unfortunate to lose by three wickets at Neston after posting a modest 160-9. Openers Tim Sykes and Stephen Dickson top scored with 35 and 33 respectively. Grappers’ bowlers were superb as they gave the team every chance with Matt Titchard picking up three wickets and part time spinner Iain Wright taking two wickets in two overs to create an unlikely chance of victory. Neston got over the line with five balls to spare and seven wickets down.
Sunday saw excellent performances by the 1st and 3rd teams.
In the Cheshire Cup the 1st XI won a remarkable match at Wallasey as they chased down 299 to win with an over to spare.
Grappers’ bowlers took some stick in the first innings as Wallasey’s opener scored a powerful 140 but the bowlers stuck to their task. Raki Rao continued his good form (https://anabolicenergy.com/hgh/) with another three wickets and Josh Hayes and Pete Barnes took two apiece. With a mammoth total to chase, openers Adam Roylance and Pete Barnes batted superbly and put on over 200 for the first wicket. Barnes fell agonisingly for 99 and Roylance went on to complete his century as he was dismissed for 102. Still with work to do, Albert Pennington carried on his good form with 43 not out to steer the side home and through to the quarter finals.
Grappenhall 3rd won a much lower scoring affair at Cheadle. Despite posting a below part 138 all out on a difficult wicket. After tea, seamer David Seed bowled superbly as he claimed six wickets to drag the side to an unlikely victory as the hosts were bowled out for 121 with 20 overs to spare.
Warrington went down by six wickets against visiting Weaverham.
Batting first, Warrington hit 192-5, Sam Houghton hitting 51 not out, including three sixes, Liam Heaphy hitting 42 and Ashley Scholes 39.
Scholes took 2-69 but the visitors reached their target for the loss of four wickets.
Warrington 2nd won by three runs in a nail-bitter at Sale, batting first and posting 207 and then bowling out the home side for 204.
Away at Winnington Park, Warrington 3rd restricted the home side to 112-9 and then coasted to 116-1, Paul Higham hitting 44 not out and M Alam 64 not out.
In the Cheshire League, Lymm Oughtrington Park won a low-scoring game at Disley, dismissing the home side for 92 after posting a modest 127, mainly due to skipper Matthew Carr’s 68.
Lymm 2nd were put in by Runcorn at Oughtrington Lane and totalled 220-8, ake Huighes hitting 69 and Steve Knowles 34.
Runcorn held on at 148-8, Travis Scholes taking 4-23.
Appleton’s were involved in a nail-biting draw against league leaders Langley at Lyons Lane. Langley captain Pat Horgan smashed 103 from 65 balls to set up a declaration at 253-6. Appleton’s reply started strongly with a 94 run opening stand. At 158-5 the game looked beyond the home side but a quickfire 29 from 24 balls form skipper Alex Wright pulled them back into the game and Appleton were an agonising eight runs short when they ran out of overs. Martin Cooper carried his bat for a superb 123 from 133 balls.
Appleton 2nd thrashed Barnton by 133 runs. Runs for Antony Hurst and Josh Coghlan saw Appleton run up an imposing total of 215 from 45 overs. Pete MacShane then took five wickets and Dave Sujith four as the home side were bundled out for just 82.
The highest total of the season couldn’t bring victory for Appleton 3rd in their bottom of the table clash with Prestbury. Mike Arnold hit 90 Paul White 70 not out on a fast outfield at the Grange saw the hosts able to declare on 244-2 after just 35 overs. A torrential downpour at the tea interval saw two overs lost from the game and the visitors had reached 189-7 when stumps were drawn.
Appleton’s 4th secured their second win of the season when they beat Warrington 4th by seven wickets in the local derby. A maiden senior five wicket haul for 17-year-old Alex Warham saw Warrington bowled out for 91 on their home ground. Appleton cruised to their target in 30 overs.
Stretton were bundled out for 77 at home to Stockport Trinity, who coasted to 80-5.
Glazebury lost by four wickets in an evenly-matched game at Frodsham.
Batting first, Glazebury hit 167-7, Jack Warhurst top scoring with 84 and skipper Anthony Meulman 30.
Frodsham replied with 169-6 with Kyle Keeble taking 2-40 and Jordan Carroll 2-35.
But Glazebury turned the tables in the 2nd XI game at Hurst Lane, restricting Frodsham to 175-8, Sean Caine 2-47, Jack Whitehead 3-31 and Mark Rowan 2-25. Glazebury replied aggressively with 179-2, Ian Black hitting 57 and Sam Stanier 96 not out.
Women’s Cricket
Appleton moved back to the top of division one in the Cheshire Women’s League but only after an almighty scare at Stockport Georgians.
From 38-5, they needed a partnership of 41 from Anni Rashid, 31. and Sylvia Christelow to overhaul the Georgians’ 79-9.
Earlier, Rashid had taken 3-2 and Christelow 2-11.
Lymm Oughtrington Park were beaten by Didsbury, hitting 108-3, Carol Ingham 28, in reply to the home side’s 156-4.
In the divisional T20 competition, Appleton Tigers held Oakmere Kats to 53-9, Nathalie Long taking 4-10 and Olivia Horsfield 2-8. They then hit off the runs for the loss of one wicket, Emma Barlow 28 retired.