Grappers hit rock bottom

ANOTHER defeat – this time at the hands of mid-table Toft – plunged Grappenhall to rock bottom in the Chapel Press Cheshire County League. Premier division.
They are now 11 points adrift in the battle to stay in the top flight of Cheshire cricket and clearly facing a uphill task.
Toft took first choice of a good batting wicket and hit 251-6 in 55 overs – a formidable target but not one that Grappers on their day could not achieve.
Tony Hurdley hit 41, Iain Wright 40 and Adam Roylance 31 as Grappenhall replied with 210 in 53 overs – not quite enough to salvage a draw.
There is no doubt Grappenhall have had more than their share of bad luck this summer – not least the fact that inspirational skipper Steve Titchard has not been available until recently due to injury.
He took 3-96 against Toft so hopefully may be able to provide the extra boost the side needs to stay in the premier division.
Grappenhall 2nd travelled to Toft and also lost. Batting first, they hit 193, Will Sharp hitting 34, Paul Radage 22, Luke McCoy 27 and Mike Sambell 23 all getting started but failing to on to a big score.
Toft replied with 194-4, Sam Guest taking 2-48.
Grappenhall 3rd beat Marple by 16 runs after batting first and declaring on 203-8. Albert Pennington hit 49 and Matt Titchard 48 not out. Marple were dismissed for 187, Pennington taking 4-38 to complete a fine all-round performance.
Warrington picked up a useful 49-run victory over Congleton after openers Malcolm Agar, 75, and Drew Martel, 87, gave them a good start and James Hughes followed up with 78 not out. Warrington declared on 256-2 and then dismissed Congleton for 207, Martel completing a great day with 5-74 and Matt Adams picking up 3-27.
In the Meller Braggins Cheshire League, Stretton picked up a useful two wicket victory over Alderley Park.
Park batted first and declared on 145-9. Ben Clissold took 6-42. Paul Flanagan hit an unbeaten 46 as Stretton replied with 146-8.
In the Cheshire Alliance, Glazebury stayed in touch with the leaders with a superb win over Frodsham.
They got off to a dreadful start, losing three wickets for 27. But then Wayne Hargreaves, 104 not out and David Acton, 104, added 198 for the fourth wicket, enabling the Hurst Lane side to declare on 235-4 in the 43rd over.
Paceman Sam Stanier tore into the Frodsham batting, taking 5-32 and Acton followed up his century by taking 3-34 as the visitors were dismissed for 101.
Glazebury 2nd went down at Offerton after being restricted to 129-8. Opener Sean Caine hit 45 and Saj Sadiq 28. But the home side lost only two wickets reaching their target.
Rylands went down by 125 runs against league leaders Langley who batted first and hit an awesome 296-3. The Warrington side hit 171 – a pretty good score in most matches – with Eddie Platt hitting 41, Sam Mulholland 42 and Wesley Jenkins 26
Appleton registered a welcome win when they hit 179 against Old Parkonians at Lyons Lane. Chris Grumley top scored with 51 and Tom Lomas 38. The visitors were dismissed for 122, Lomas picking up 3-26 and Danny Oliver 2-19.