WARRINGTON missed out on the Vivio Cheshire County League division two title by just two points after slipping up in the last match of the season.
The Walton Lea club had already secured promotion the previous week but they went down by four wickets to Lindow, who had pursued them all summer.
Warrington batted first and hit 151 – a disappointing score with most of the runs coming from Malcolm Agar, 54 and Jonathan Fletcher, 51. Only one other batsman reached double figures.
Lindow reached their target comfortably, with James Rudd the pick of the Warrington bowlers with 3-37.
Warrington 2nd also lost after being dismissed for 143, Brad Roden 47, by Brooklands who went on to score 144-5, Simon Hewitt taking 2-20.
Despite missing out on the title, it was an excellent season for Warrington, although they owed much to all-rounder Jonathan Fletcher who finished the year with a total of 679 league runs at an average of 52.23 and also took 30 wickets at an average of 8.67.
Promotion to division one will mean Warrington will play near neighbours Grappenhall next season, after the Broad Lane club were relegated from the premier division after a dismal season.
Ironically, Grappenhall turned in their best batting performance of the season in their final game at home to Toft.
They hit 244 – their highest total of the season – with skipper Adam Roylance top scoring with 63, Aussie Olly Knight 58 and promising youngster Will Fell 48.
The game went down to the wire with the Knutsford side three runs short with nine wickets down at the close.
Roylance and Josh Hayes took three wickets each.
Grappenhall 2nd drew at Toft, after the home side had posted 238-5, Martyn Jenks picking up three wickets and veteran Ben Cagna in his final game for the club before he retires, taking two wickets. Grappers finished on 181-6, with skipper Ross Arrowsmith top scoring with 40 not out to see the game out.
The 2nd XI were also relegated to division one.
Grappers 3rd won their last game against Hyde comfortably to finish their season in a creditable fourth place after their own flirtations with relegation earlier in the season.
The club say despite the disappointing summer they look forward with confidence to next season.
In the UKFast Cheshire League, Lymm Oughtrington Park won their last match but were still relegated from division one because of results elsewhere.
Batting first at home, Lymm declared on 204-9 against Weaverham, skipper Mathew Carr hitting 65, Travis Scholes 43 and Sam Pendlebury 34 not out.
Weaverham were bowled out for 121 with plenty of time to spare. Azan Baig took 5-34 and Shir Wali 4-22.
Lymm 2nd also won after bowling out the Weaverham second string for 137, Jake Hughes 3-29 and Chris Oakes 2-19.
Skipper Steve Knowles hit 45 not out, Hughes 41 and Dave Evans 28 not as Lymm replied with 138-2.
Appleton will stay in Division 2 of the Cheshire County Cricket League next year after leapfrogging out of the relegation zone in the final round of games with a win over Woodford at Lyons Lane.
Batting first the home side were only able to post 128-6 from 45 overs. However, four wickets from Ian Macauley saw the visitors bundled out for just 51. Appleton’s safety was confirmed when relegation rivals Irby could only manage a draw.
Appleton 2nd avoided defeat for the first time in five games after battling for a draw at Barnton.
The home side declared on 217-6 after 41 overs. Ed Sygrove replied with 47 for Appleton but the chase never got going and Appleton batted out their overs to reach 152-5 at the end of the game.
Appleton 3rd won away at Over Peover.
A depleted Appleton 4th lost to Knutsford at Pewterspear.
Set 137 to win, they could only manage 99 from their 40 overs.
Stretton drew their final game at Bredbury St Marks with the scores level.
Batting first, Stretton were all out for 230. The home side were on 230-7 when time ran out.
Glazebury won their last game when they bowled out Wistaston Village for 39 at Hurst Lane.
Sam Stanier took 6-20 and Hakeem Dahou 3-5.
Then Stanier hit 20 not out as Glazebury replied with 40-3.
Glazebury 2nd lost their game at Wistaston despite a brilliant all-round performance by Jack Whitehead.
First he took 6-22 as the home side hit 210, then he hammered 73 as Glazebury replied with 185 all out.
Alex Wort, 40 and Stephen Brunt, 32, offered good support.
WOMEN’S CRICKET
Appleton finished fourth in the Cheshsire Women’s League – a disappointing result for the Lyons Lane club who until a few seasons back dominated the women’s game locally.
They won five of their 10 league games but came below champions Didsbury, runners-up Porthill Park and third placed oakmere.
But in the regional T20 competition, Appleton Tigers were runners up to Stockport Trinity.
