THE Warrington area’s two top cricket sides are still looking for their first win in the Chapel Press Cheshire County League.
Warrington went down by nine wickets against Christleton at Walton Lea while Grappenhall suffered a five wicket defeat at the hands of Heaton Mersey.
Meanwhile, other Warrington cricket teams in the Meller Braggins Cheshire League and the Cheshire Alliance started their campaigns.
Warrington were dismissed for 110 with only opener Malcolm Agar, 37 and Chris Kirby, 27 offering much resistance.
When Christleton batted Aussie Steve Heydon claimed a wicket with the score at 38 but that was Warrington’s only success and the visitors ran out victors with 114-1.
Warrington 2nd went down by five wickets against Middlewich.
Batting first, Warrington declared at 264-8, the main contributors being J Mitchell, 54, R Taylor, 56 and J Waldron, 46.
Middlewich replied with 268-5, despite good bowling from Lewis Nunn, 3-62 and Howard Morris, 2-50.
Warrington 3rd enjoyed a six wicket victory at Birkenhead Park, hitting 171-4 in reply to the home side’s all-out total of 170.
Losing the toss, Grappenhall were asked to bat first against Heaton Mersey and reached a respectable 217-9. Alan Brady, 51, Liam Parkinson, 43 and opener Richard Green, 36, were leading scorers. Heaton Mersey were at one stage struggling on 46-3 but skipper Mark Bennett hit a chanceless 148 to carry them to 220-5. Gary Burns took 3-31, Andy Tetlow 1-36 and Steve Titchard 1-37.
Grappenhall 3rd won by five wickets at Neston, with Les Connolly, 108 not out registering the club’s first century of the season.
Neston batted first and reached 173-7 but Connelly’s unbeaten knock, supported by Matt Titchard, 29 not out, was enough to clinch the game.
Glazebury started their Cheshire Alliance season with a victory at Heaton Mersey Village.
The home side batted first and mustered 142, David Acton taking 5-25 and Stewart Caller 2-32.
Glazebury replied with 146-7, Jon Gibbons top scoring with 34, Jack Warhurst hitting an unbeaten 30 and Devesh Shete 26.
A brave declaration failed to pay off for Glazebury 2nd, however, when they went down to Wirral side The Groves.
Glazebury declared on 177-8, Rhys Marsh 46 and Phil McCue 54. Skipper Wayne Hargreaves rang all the changes with his bowling attack to try and dismiss the opposition, even removing his wicket keeper’s gloves to take 2-23 himself but The Groves finished on 180-5.
Appleton 2nd enjoyed a comfortable nine wicket victory at Offerton after dismissing them for a meagre 49. Pete Worrall took 6-24 and Michael Ormson 4-20. Tom Shard hit 29 not out as Appleton replied with 53-1.
Rylands’ normally strong batting line-up failed at Disley, after their bowlers had done well to restrict the home side to 156-8. Adam Peters, 4-23 and Mark Green, 2-23 were the most effective bowlers. Rylands were dismissed for 72, with opener Peter Knowles top scoring with 22.
Rylands 2nd went down by 22 runs at Frodsham after the home side had declared on 158-9. Rylands were dismissed for 136
Women’s Cricket
THE new Warrington Women’s team – the only Cheshire side in the North Division of National Premier League – launched its campaign with an exciting two wicket victory over Sheffield United.
Sheffield batted first and scored 160, Lorna Thomas taking 3-21 and Natalie Heap, on her Premier League debut, picking up 3-39.
In the Cheshire Women’s League, Appleton had the tough task of taking on the powerful Chester Boughton Hall side in their first game and were defeated by eight wickets. Appleton were dismissed for 83 and the visitors replied with 87-2.
Appleton skipper Emma Barlow had a heartbreak start to the season being run out to the first ball of the match without ever facing a ball.
The other opening bat struck the ball which was deflected by the bowler on to the stumps with Emma out of her ground!
