Grappers go straight down again!

A YEAR ago, Grappenhall was celebrating the promotion to the top flight of Cheshire Cricket – the ECB Premier division of the Chapel Press Cheshire County League.
Now, despite a spirited performance to win their final game, the club has to face up to going straight back down again.
It has been a disappointing season for the club who found life in the premier division difficult – not least because club captain and former Lancashire all-rounder Steve Titchard was absent through injury for most of the season.
They started the final match knowing they needed maximum points and also favours from elsewhere.
Grappenhall bowled out fourth placed Oxton for 167, Titchard taking 4-39 to underline how much he was missed earlier on. Skipper Guy Emmett took 3-31.
Then Tony Hurdley hit 69 and Liam Parkinson 41 not out to carry Grappenhall to 171-7 and victory.
But the news from elsewhere was not good – meaning Grappers took the drop by the slenderest of margins.
The relegation was a big disappointment but the players learned a great deal of what is required to compete in the top flight and hope to go back up again soon.
Grappenhall 3rd ended their season safe in the knowledge they would not be relegated and were asked to bowl first against by visiting Nantwich.
The visitors finished on 209, with Grappers using 10 bowlers in a relaxed atmosphere.
Grappenhall lost early wickets, including a couple of contentious LBW decisions, but then “T-Bone” Titchard and Neil Muttock both hit half-centuries to take the side to victory with five wickets and one over to spare.
Warrington disappointingly missed out on promotion to division one after leading division two for most of the season.
Warrington 2nd lost by seven wickets in their final match. James Mitchell, 42, top scored as the side was dismissed for 104 by Urmston, who replied with 105-3.
In the Cheshire Alliance, Glazebury ended a magnificent first season in the first division by going straight up to the Meller Braggins Cheshire League – the next step in the county promotion ladder.
Rain interfered with the final game against Hartford at Hurst Lane and it was reduced to 68 overs.
Glazebury batted first and hit 144-6 in 37 overs, Jack Warhurst hitting a superb 63 and Wayne Hargreaves 29.
Hartford were going well on 107-4 but then lost six wickets for 12 runs to collapse to 119 all out. Warhurst completed a fine all-round performance by taking 4-32 while skipper Andy Calvert took 4-29.
Promotion still depended on results elsewhere but there were scenes of jubilation when the news came through that they had gone Glazebury’s way to ensure promotion by virtue of being runners-up.
Glazebury 2nd had been in danger of being relegated from division two but defeated Hartford by 48 runs to ensure they stayed up.
Andy Durrington hit 47 and Callum Morgan 37 as Glazebury hit 137. The home side was bowled out for 89, Mark Rowan taking 4-12, Sean Caine 3-31 and Gerard Southworth 2-14.
Appleton ended what has been a disappointing season with an eight wicket victory over Haslington.
Tom Lomas took 4-28, Pete Worrall 3-50 and Ed Sygrove 3-15 as Haslington were dismissed for 122. Chris Grumley hit an unbeaten 75 as Appleton replied with 125-2.
Appleton 2nd coasted to an easy win over Haslington after totalling 204-5. Mike Arnold hit 79 and Aamir Rashid 40.
Then Chris Tomlinson, 4-2 and Michael Ormson, 3-28 bowled out the opposition for 87.
Appleton 3rd his 132 at Capenhurst, Mike Cooper hitting 34 and Sam Thorley 25 only to see the home side canter to 133-2 to earn promotion.
Appleton 4th were dismissed for 103 by Mossley who then went on to hit 104-5.
Rylands ended their season with a defeat at the hands of Old Parkonians who declared on 199-4 and then dismissed the home side for 152.
In the Meller Braggins Cheshire League, Lymm Oughtrington Park finished their season with a victory over Aston. Batting first, Lymm hit 117 and then dismissed the visitors for 94.