RAIN has stopped play for local cricket teams in Warrington – before the season has even started!.
The heavy rain of February and March – which looks as though it has not yet finished – has forced both the top-tier Cheshire County League and the Cheshire League to put back the start of the season by one week.
Matches that would have been played on April 20 will be put back to the end of the season in September and the campaign will start on April 27 with the scheduled fixtures.
The decisions were made over the weekend following expressions of concern by groundsmen across Cheshire that they would not be able to prepare grounds in time for April 20.
This means that Grappenhall will now start their season in the County League ECB premier division with a visit to Widnes.
The 2nd XI will be at home to Macclesfield.
Warrington, who dropped out of the county league last year after a disappointing season, will open their Cheshire League campaign away at Stockport Trinity, hoping to be able to bounce back to the higher level.
Lymm Oughtrington Park will travel to Knutsford while Appleton will be away at Aston.
Glazebury will be at home to Chester County Officers.
All this assumes that the weather relents this month. Cheshire Cricket League officials have hinted that if it doesn’t, a further postponement could be necessary and even County League officials have admitted they are keeping their fingers crossed.
