Grappers lose top spot again

GRAPPENHALL dropped off the top of the Chapel Press Cheshire County League again after going down against Bramhall.
A poor first half performance, with missed chances and below-par bowling contributed to the visitors posting a daunting 249-6.
Aussie Jason Smith took 3-70 and Steve Titchard bowled with great control. But Bramhall’s Aussie, Travis Dean, hit a fine century to give them the edge at the tea interval.
Even so, Grappenhall’s depth in batting should have been up to the challenge.
Grappers soon lost opener James McCoy but an excellent partnership of 98 between Richard Green and Luke McCoy took the side to 104 before Green fell to one of the few deliveries to do anything.
After that wickets fell at regular intervals, with none of the middle order really getting in.
Six overs were lost to rain which upped the required run rate.
Luke McCoy continued to dominate proceedings, reaching a well deserved century and looking as if he could win the match on his own. But Bramhall but almost every fielder on the boundary to slow the scoring rate.
With nine wickets down, Grappenhall still needed 28 but runs continued to flow from McCoy until, in the penultimate over there was a mix-up leading to Sam Guest being run out with the total on 239, of which McCoy had contributed 132 not out.
Six points seemed a miserly reward for such a close finish and title rivals Bowdon, who had an easy victory, replaced them at the top of the table
Grappenhall 2nd were denied victory at Bramhall when the match had to be abandoned.
Batting first, Grappenhall reached 199-7. The home side lost two wickets reaching 64 but then the rain set in and the match was abandoned.
On Sunday, Grappenhall fell at the semi-final stage in the league’s Twenty20 competition, being unlucky to go down against hosts Neston.
The homeside batted first after winning the toss and were restricted to a modest 137-9,Sam Guest taking 5-13 and Jason Smith picking up three wickets.
Grappenhall reached 78-1 with James McCoy hitting 45 from 37 balls. But three wickets fell in the 12th over – two of them run out.
Luke McCoy hit 27 before being caught in the deep and the innings closed on 129 in the final over.
Warrington were robbed by the weather when they entertained Stockport Georgians.
Kyle Adams took 7-71 as the visitors were bowled out for 164.
The home reply started well, with Malcolm Agar hitting 22, Chris Kirby 35 and James Hughes 29.But 20 overs were lost to the weather and Warrington could not keep up with the run rate, the match ending in a draw with their score on 145-7
Warrington 2nd raced to a good victory at Brooklands where the home side were dismissed for 164, Nick Houghton taking 4-35 and Charlie McElroy 3-21.
Andy Kirby hit 60, Richard Taylor 30 not out and Robert Batey 27 not out as Warrington replied with a winning 165-3.
Warrington 4th were dismissed for 100 by Urmston – but then bowled out the opposition for 77, Peter Rydzkowski taking 3-24, Ben McCarthy 3-19 and Mansoor Naseem 3-2.
Dominic Hastings, 28 and Brian Boys, 26, were Warrington’s main run scorers.
In the Meller Braggins Cheshire League, Lymm Oughtrington Park went down by four wickets to Cholmondeley at Oughtrington Lane.
Batting first, Lymm were tumbled out for 69, Neil Chadbourne top scoring with 21. The visitors replied with 71-6 – Chadbourne taking 3-23.
Glazebury’s home game against Stretton was a low-scoring affair ending with the visitors claiming victory against a background of debateable umpiring decisions.
But Glazebury 2nd strolled to a nine wicket victory Winsford after dismissing the home side for 61, Dave Nicholson taking 6-18.
Phil McCue hit an unbeaten 37 not out and Gordon Chesworth 20 as Glazebury replied with 63-1
In the Cheshire Alliance, Appleton suffered a crushing defeat at Sandbach, where the home side declared on 202-2 in 43 overs. Appleton were bowled out for 94, Chris Grumley, 20 and Lee Stoll 21, top scoring.
Appleton 2nd were denied victory over Kerridge by the weather after they had declared on 245-3, Dom Smith 105 not out, Andy Tyrer 59 and Ali Sharif 55.
Kerridge were struggling on 38-5 when rain wiped out the rest of the match.
Appleton 4th suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Holmes Chapel, who batted first and reached 212-5 declared. Appleton were dismissed for 130, Ian Findley hitting 37 and John Ormson 34
Rylands 2nd held on for a draw at Mossley had hit 189-5. Rylands’ last pair were at the wicket with 149 on the board when the game ended.