Grappenhall face relegation

RELEGATION from the premier division of the Chapel Press Cheshire County League is now staring Grappenhall in the face.
They went down by five wickets at Didsbury after winning the toss and batting first on a wicket that turned out to be a difficult one to bat on. Runs were hard to get and Grappenhall had to use their full allocation of 60 overs to reach 160.
Early wickets were needed to put the pressure on the home team and at 32-2 Grappers sensed a chance. Unfortunately one or two missed opportunities allowed the home team to escape with the pressure eased.
Didsbury eased to their target with the loss of five wickets, leaving Grappenhall with very few points for consolation and staring relegation square in the face. A big improvement is needed over the last four weeks to stand any chance of staying up, with the toughest of home games next week against league leaders and reigning champions Nantwich.
Grappenhall 2nd won by six wickets at home to Didsbury, bowling out the visitors for 160 and having little trouble reaching their target. Luke McCoy scored a fine 70 to take Grappers past the winning post. The result keeps them in the hunt for the title.
Grappenhall 3rd travelled to Urmston to take part in the 3rd XI Twenty20 Cup competition Finals Day. In their semi, they put Neston in first and dismissed them for 93 with good bowling from Mick Metcalfe and Andy Hawley.
Grappers set off brightly to chase down the small total and at 50-1 looked well placed. But the loss of a couple of quick wickets left them struggle and only scraped home off the last ball of the game. David Nicholson, Matt Bennison and Ashley Scholes all played well.
The final was against reigning league and cup champions Didsbury who hammered 160-9 from their 20 overs. Grappers lost two quick wickets and Didsbury bowled tightly and Grappenhall were left needing 70 from the last six overs – a task that was too much. They ended up 110 all out with an over to spare.
Warrington 2nd earned a draw at Timperley after the home side batted first and reached 222-6. Paul Agar took 2-22 and Howard Morris 2-51. Warrington were 201-8 at the close, Steve Roberts finishing 88 not out, Ross Duncan hitting 30 and James Lewis 31.
In the Cheshire Alliance, Glazebury kept in touch with the division one leaders with a useful win over local rivals Appleton at Hurst Lane.
Batting first, Glazebury struggled for runs and were at one stage 55-5. But skipper Andrew Calvert hit 46 and Deal Lord 28 as they recovered to reach 150. Tom Lomas took 5-24 and Danny Oliver 3-28.
Appleton were never in the hunt, however and were dismissed for 81. David Lomas hit 21 while three Glazebury bowlers shared the honours, Calvert 3-22, Saj Sadiq 3-22 and Rhys Marsh 3-19.
Glazebury 2nd went down at Wistaston to remain firmly rooted at the foot of the division three table. The home side hit 208, despite good bowling from Gerard Southworth, 4-21 and Matthew Shailer, 3-26. Glazebury were dismissed for 168, skipper Chris Lord hitting 40 and veteran Paul Warhurst an unbeaten 58.
Appleton 2nd lost by five wickets at home to Offerton.
Batting first, they totalled 166-9, Dave Hurst top scoring with 57. Offerton reached 167-5, with Michael Cumberland, 2-49 the most successful Appleton bowler.
Rylands were humbled against Haslington being tumbled out for 75 chasing a target of only 140.
Rylands 2nd earned a draw at Mossley where the home side hit 203-3. Rylands replied with 156-8, Alan Brady hitting 40, Matt Brady 33 and Andrew Mansfield 33.
Stretton 3rd set a good target of 222, but Oulton Park chose to go for a draw and ended on 126-7.