Grappers plunge after narrow defeat

A DEFEAT by the narrow margin of four runs left Grappenhall painfully aware that life is tough in the premier division of the Cheshire County League.
The result left them fourth from bottom of the table and wondering what might have been if a couple of umpiring decisions had gone the other way.
Macclesfield were the visitors at Broad Lane and made first use of a wicket offering something for everyone.
At 66-4, with all four wickets going to skipper Guy Emmett, things were looking good for Grappers. But the visitors rallied to reach 195-6 – Emmett finishing with 4-51.
James McCoy and Richard Green put on 77 for the first wicket – McCoy being particularly punishing on the Macclesfield attack and eventually falling just five short of his century. But a mid order collapse followed and of the later batsmen only Gary Burns, with 23, offered much support. Grappenhall ended on 191 all out.
Grappenhall 2nd also lost at Macclesfield after being dismissed for 174 and then seeing the home side win with the last pair at the wicket.
But in the cup, Grappenhall 2nd defeated Marple by five wickets, Neil Titchard taking 3-19 and Albert Pennington 3-24 as the opposition were dismissed for 125. Andy Tetlow hit 37 and Will Sharp 41 not out as Grappers reached 126-5
Warrington were held to a draw by visiting Stockport Georgians.
Batting first, Warrington reach 168-8 through some solid batting from Michael Rudd, 36, Malcolm Agar, 26, Richard Heaney 52 and Liam Heaphy, 27.
Georgians were on 141-6 at the close, Steve Heydon taking 3-34 and Drew Martel 2-50.
Warrington 2nd bowed out of the cup after an exciting one-run defeat at the hands of Bramhall, who batted first and totalled 135, James Lewis taking 3-21 and veteran seamer Paul Agar 4-32. Warrington were all out for 134, James Rudd, 28 and Joel Chadderton, 30, contributing the main scores.
Warrington 4th suffered a 10-wicket mauling from Upton after being dismissed for 92, of which Derek Bate hit 52.
In the Meller Braggins Cheshire League, Lymm Oughtrington Park earned a draw against Cholmondeley who declared on 181-7. Lymm were 153-7 when the overs ran out.
Stretton were dismissed for 139 against The Groves and then saw the Wirral side progress to 140-8.
In the Cheshire Alliance, Glazebury lost their top spot when they entertained Wirral.
The visitors batted first and recovered from 72-6 to reach 158-8. Sam Stanier took 3-52, Dave Acton 2-49 and Andrew Calvert 2-34.
Glazebury were tumbled out for 86 with Acton, 18, the only batsmen in the top six to get more than 10. At one time Glazebury were 36-5 and although the lower order rallied a bit the task proved too much.
Appleton’s batsmen struck form after a series of disappointing results and got the better of a drawn game at Frodsham
Openers Rick Clarke, 98 and Antony Hurst, 36 got them off to a superb start and Aamir Rashid, 29 added some quick runs later on to take the score to 230-7. Frodsham lost two wickets without a run on the board but then rallied to reach 157-8. Ed Pugh, with three wickets, and Pete Worrall with two, were the main wicket takers.
Appleton 2nd chalked up an exciting two-run victory over Wistaston.
Batting first on a difficult wicket, Appleton totalled 107-9, Dave Hurst, 24 and Steve Reece, 20.
Stuart Bate took 4-29 and Sam Swift 3-38 as Wiston were bowled out for 105 with seven balls remaining.
Ryland 2nd earned a three wicket win over Norbury after restricting them to 180-7, Sujith Nair taking 3-57.
Rylands replied with 182-7, Wesley Jenkins hitting 65, Geoff Shaw 34 and Matt Brady 29 not out.