Grappers forced to settle for draw

GRAPPENHALL had to settle for a draw in their Right Move Abroad game with Middlewich at Broad Lane – after the visitors left them only 45 overs to score more than 200.
Middlewich used the maximum 55 overs to reach 209-7 with Andy Tetlow and Cameron Park being the pick of the bowlers, along with Steve Titchard.
This meant Grappenhall had to make a good start but in fact they limped to 16-1 in 10 overs leaving a massive task in the remaining 35 overs.
Park was again in form with a sound 80 and Will Sharp 30 and Titchard, 40, got some momentum going. But when the former Lancashire star was dismissed for the first time in the league this season and with the run rate getting tougher all the time, Grappenhall had to settle for a draw. But they got maximum batting points thanks to a timely 10 not out from 15-year-old debutante Adam Roylance.
Grappenhall 2nd travelled to Middlewich with a much weakened team and on losing the toss were asked to bowl first on the usually excellent Middlewich wicket. With only two recognised bowlers it was asking a lot, but Matt Titchard, 4-89 from 25 overs and Sam Guest 3- 42 from 10 overs. A final target of 217 was within reach and at 91-1 from 20 overs Grappenhall were in with a good chance. But wickets started to tumble and although runs were still coming the wickets ran out with Grappenhall still 40 runs short. Neil Sharp top scored with 49 and the improving Bradley Angel, 21 and Matt Bennison, 18, offered stiff resistance at the end.
Grappenhall 3rd lost the toss and were put into bat on a hard wicket at Alderley Edge. Tight bowling made runs hard to come by and it wasn’t long before they were in trouble, They were dismissed inside 35 overs for a sad 87.
The home side also struggled and were reduced to 47-5. But they did not lose any more wickets and reached their targets inside 20 overs.
Grappenhall’s Over 40s team enjoyed their second successive victory against Davenham. Batting first Grappenhall scored 121 from 20 overs with Paul Green and Dave Nicholson both retiring on 31 runs and useful contributions coming from a number of others.
In the Meller Braggins Cheshire League, Stretton inflicted a heavy defeat on near neighbours Kingsley.
Stretton hit 165, with opener Toby Mullins hitting a fine century and only falling on the last ball of the innings. Kingsley were tumbled out for 83.
In the Cheshire Alliance, Appleton continued to find life hard in division one when they went down by seven wickets to visiting Woodford.
Appleton were dismissed for 87, Luke Truin top scoring with an unbeaten 24 and then saw the visitors canter to 88-3.
Glazebury were beaten by 98 runs at home by Heaton Mersey Village. Sam Stanier took 4-46 and Stuart Caller 3-69 as the visitors totalled 230-8. Glazebury were then dismissed for 132, Phil McCue hitting 26 and Dave Acton 28 not out.
Rylands added another victory to their impressive total – seven out of seven completed games – when they hammered visiting Haslington by 103 runs. Rylands hit 210 with Peter Knowles 86 and the visitors were dimissed for 107, Richard Buck taking 5-31 and Matthew Brady 3-3.
Glazebury 2nd earned a draw at Mossley after the home side had hit 234-7. Dave Nicholson was the pick of the bowlers with 4-41. Glazebury finished on 190-9, Simon Green stroking an elegant 68 and skipper Andy Durrington hammering 30.
Appleton 2nd were narrowly beaten by division three leadera Audlem. The home side hit 205-6 and Appleton were dismissed for 190, Stuart Macgregor making 42.