Grappers march on – despite the rain

GRAPPENHALL managed to defeat appalling weather as well as the opposition to increase their lead at the top of the Chapel Press Cheshire County League first division to 22 points.
The game was reduced to 60 overs by rain and Grappenhall invited second placed Cheadle to bat first on a superb track at Broad Lane.
The visitors reaching a challenging 179-6 in their 30 overs. Grappenhall used only three bowlers, skipper Steve Titchard taking 2-87, Garry Burns 3-40 and Dean Riches 1-49.
When Grappenhall replied they lost James McCoy with the score at 20 but then in-form Luke McCoy joined Richard Green and they put on 62 in quick time, McCoy eventually falling for a hard hit 27.
But it was the arrival of Harry Worley, in his first 1st XI game of the season which really swung the game. It was probably the finest attacking innings ever seen at Broad Lane – 85 not out from only 36 balls including nine sixes and half-a-dozen lost balls.
Green ended on 50 not out and the pair had a partnership of exactly 100.
It was Grappenhall’s seventh successive victory in the league.
Grappenhall 2nd also managed to complete their game at Cheadle – but were not so lucky.
Cheadle batted first and reached 152-6, despite a good return by Mark Roylance with 4-61. Grappenhall were dismissed for 117, Mike Sambell top scoring with 25 and Mike Holden hitting 22.
Grappenhall 3rd, batting first, put together a reasonable score of 161-6 from 45 overs against Heaton Mersey. Mark Tyerman, 40 and Jack Critchley, 50 were the pick of the batsmen.
But Heaton Mersey proved the stronger on the day, reaching their target with six overs to spare. Jack Critchley picked up two wickets.
Warrington’s match was abandoned without a ball being bowled, as were most others involving local sides.
In the Cheshire Alliance, Rylands managed a shortened game at home to Langley.
The visitors hit 161-5 in 33 overs with Sean Malone taking 2-65 and Adam Peters 2-35 but Rylands were tumbled out for 69, Sam Mulholland top scoring with 15.
In the Meller Braggins Cheshire League, Lymm Oughtrington Park earned a six wicket victory over Barnton, who declared on 135-8. Lymm replied with 136-4.
Stretton were held to a draw by Cheadle Hulme Ladybridge.
Batting first, Stretton declared on 182-9 and Ladybridge could only reach 155-7 by the time the overs ran out.