WARRINGTON moved within one point of a promotion place and four points of the leaders with an emphatic 155 run victory over Mobberley in the Chapel Press Cheshire County League division two.
If the town team can clinch promotion it would represent a great bounce-back after the humiliation of relegation last season.
Wicket keeper Michael Rudd, with an unbeaten 96, set Warrington on the way to an all-out total of 223. James Rudd hit 42 and James Hughes 33.
But it was the pace bowling of Steve Heydon which swung the match. The Aussie took 7-24, supported by Matt Adams, 3-40, as Mobberley crashed out for 68.
In the premier division, however, Grappenhall received another indication of how tough it is at the top when they went down at mid-table Neston to remain firmly rooted at the bottom.
Neston elected to bat first on a good wicket and amassed 270-1 as Grappenhall’s bowlers toiled without luck. The one wicket to fall was a run-out!
A downpour resulted in an early declaration and Grappenhall, who had reshuffled their team to rest a couple of out-of-form regulars, made a good attempt to secure a vital victory. Adam Roylance hit 47, Iain Wright 37, Steve Titchard 32 and Gaz Burns 40.
Throughout the game a number of disappointing umpiring decisions seemed to go the home team’s way and at the close Grappenhall were all out for 199.
Hopes of Premier division survival now rest on next week’s encounter with fellow strugglers Oulton Park at Broad Lane.
Grappenhall 2nd enjoyed a fine victory over table-toppers Neston after amassing 304-8 in 50 overs. James McCoy hit 52, Nick Sharp a fine 111, Ian Barnes 48 and Mike Sambell 40.
Neston’s batsmen were unsettled by the blistering pace of Grappers’ new boy Luke Williams, a Lancashire youth player who took 5-50 in his first game for the club. Sam Baxter chipped in with 2-19 and Neston were all out for 142.
Grappenhall 3rd also raced to a fine win after dismissing Heaton Mersey for 104.
Young off spinner Albert Pennington took 5-32 and Pete Talbot 3-24. Then Grappenhall replied with 108-4, Mark Tyerman hitting a belligerent 61 not out.
In the Cheshire Alliance, Glazebury’s chances of promotion took a knock when they went down in a closely-fought game with division one leaders Langley at Hurst Lane.
Batting first, they could only muster 107, Dave Acton top scoring with 33 and Dave Mason hitting 22.
But Langley also found runs hard to get against the pace of Sam Stanier who took 7-42. The visitors lost eight wickets reaching their target. The result leaves Glazebury fifth in the table, 48 points behind the leaders.
Glazebury 2nd remained rooted at the bottom of division three after losing at Haslington, where the home side batted first and reached 248-5 declared in 41 overs. David Nicholson was the most effective bowler with 3-45.
Glazebury got off to a bad start and slumped to 93-8 before the tail restored some respectability to their final total of 152. Rhys Marsh top scored with 25.
Appleton’s improved form continued with a useful win at Ellesmere Port.
Batting first, Appleton hit 203-8, thanks mainly to a fine innings of 96 from Lee Stoll and 60 from in-form opener Richard Clarke. The home side were dismissed for 129, Danny Oliver taking 5-45, Tom Lomas 2-33 and Andrew Jackson, 2-27.
Appleton 2nd were held to a draw by the Ellesmere Port second string at Lyons Lane.
Dave Hurst hit a fine 86 as Appleton hit 188-9. Tom Shard hit 41.
The visitors struggled for runs as Chris Tomlinson took 3-26, Philip Jackson 2-42 and Sam Swift 2-28 and finished on 152-8.
Rylands 2nd suffered a four wicket defeat at the hands of Audlem. They were dismissed for 123 and then watch their opponents stroll to 124-6.
