GRAPPENHALL’S bold bid to win promotion to the top flight of Cheshire cricket will be decided on the last weekend of the season.
They pulled out all the stops to win by six wickets at Cheadle Hulme, again drafting in ex-Test star Neil Fairbrother – the club’s patron – to join former Lancashire players Richard Green and skipper Steve Titchard.
The result leaves Grappenhall lying third in the Chapel Press Cheshire County League first division – behind Widnes and Macclesfield. But only one point separates the three clubs.
Grappenhall need a maximum 25 points on Saturday – and for one of the other two sides to fail to get maximum points. Two of the three sides will be promoted to the ECB Premier division.
Cheadle Hulme won the toss and decided to bat. Grappenhall bowled steadily, keeping the runs tight and applying some good, late pressure. The home side finished on 201-8.
Adam Roylance got Grappers off to a quick start with 41 but the game swung dramatically in the visitors’ favour when Fairbrother and Luke McCoy arrived at the crease. They both scored freely and took Grappenhall within sight of victory before McCoy was out for a fluent 70.
Fairbrother finished on 60 not out as Grappers reached their target.
Grappenhall 3rd went down in their last match of the season at Elworth but managed to avoid relegation.
The home side batted first and finished on 206-8, Paul Tyerman taking 3-9, Ashley Higham 2-27 and Neil Muttock 2-59.
Grappenhall replied with 163, Muttock top scoring with 62 and Tom Hulme hitting 31.
Warrington are now resigned to again being in the second division next summer.
They look set to be third in the division but the gap between them and the two frontrunners is too big to close.
Travelling to Birkenhead Park they dismissed the home side for 100, Matt Adams taking 5-27 and Dan Pascoe 3-21. But runs were hard to get on a difficult wicket and Warrington lost eight wickets reaching the modest target. Tom Jones hit 33 and James Hughes 22.
In the Meller Braggins Cheshire League, Lymm Oughtrington Park won by four wickets at Winsford.
The home side were dismissed for 127 and Lymm replied with 129-6.
Lymm 2nd were held to a draw against Malpas at Oughtrington Lane.
Batting first, Lymm hit 151-8 but although the visitors never looked in the chase they held out at 95-8.
There was a nail-biting finish to the Cheshire Alliance division game between title-chasers Glazebury and Audlem.
Audlem batted first at Hurst Lane and reached 179-6., Sam Stanier, 2-29 and Andrew Calvert, 2-60 being the main wicket takers.
Glazebury’s reply was spearheaded by Ian McCue, who hit 84 and there was useful support from skipper Wayne Hargreaves, 20 and Callum Morgan, 26. But there was high drama at the end of the game when with Glazebury’s last pair at the wicket and the scores level the visitors grabbed a wicket and the game ended in a tye.
This means they share the points – and should both, surely, earn promotion.
Glazebury 2nd strolled to an 88-run victory at Eastham.
Batting first they totalled 151, with Michael Nutkins 26, Phil McCue 34 and Gary Ayres 24. The home side were dismissed for 63 with Kyle Keeble taking 5-37.
Appleton suffered a defeat at home at the hands of Frodsham. After a nine week run of good performances their usually solid batting order crumbled in the middle order with only Chris Grumley showing any fight with 38. A rally by Danny Oliver and Brian Woods pushed the total up to 168-9 before the overs ran out. An early wicket from Tom Lomas didn’t stop Frodsham from running out winners by seven wickets
Appleton 2nd also suffered a heavy defeat at Styal where they batted first and were dismissed for 132, Tom Shard 29 and Sam Swift 22. The total would have been much lower but for a last wicket partnership of 36 between Duane Jones, 14 not out and Stuart Bate, 21.
Styal cantered to 136-2.
Rylands 2nd earned a draw against Wilmslow, who batted first and were able to declare on 247-7. Nathan Lowe 3-37 and Bond Bateson, 2-58. Rylands finished on 221-7, Sean Peters top scoring with 67, Phil Mansfield hitting 45 and Nathan Lowe 44.
Women’s cricket
Appleton, already crowned champions of the Cheshire Women’s League, finished their season with a fine win over Romiley and Dinting.
Batting first, Appleton reached 165-8, with Wendy Lee top scoring with 46 and good support coming from Debbie Kingston, 28.
Romiley were dismissed for 75, with two cheap wickets for both Ellie Barnett and Lauren O’Reilly.
