Grappers topple league leaders

GRAPPENHALL celebrated the half-way stage in the Vivio Cheshire County League season with a fine, three-wicket victory over Premier division table toppers Neston at Broad Lane.
The result leaves Grappers third in the table and full of confidence for the second half of the season.
Neston won the toss and opted to bat first and were soon in trouble at 29-3. The middle order staged something of a recovery but at 174 all out left Grappers plenty of overs for their reply. Josh McClelland took 3-43 and Steven Southward 3-29.
James McCoy hit a fine 50 when Grappers replied, and with good support from Adam Roylance, 25, skipper Richard Green, 23 and Mike Sambell, 27 not out, reached their target with comparative ease.
Grappenhall 2nd travelled to Neston – also topping their respective division – needing a victory if they were to stay in touch with the leaders.
The home side decided to bowl first and Grappenhall were bowled out for 201 – a total considered to be about 30 runs short. Andy Tetlow top scored with 64.
Neston had no answer to the swing and pace of Sam Guest and Ian Barnes, who each took four wickets to bowl Grappers to victory.
Grappenhall 3rd were denied victory at Marple after hitting 213-8. The home side seemed down and out at 90-8 but an incredible last wicket partnership took them to within six runs of victory, only for the match to end in a draw with Marple on 207-9.
Warrington claimed a winning draw at Tattenhall after being restricted to 130-8, Paul Farrar 48 and Chris Kirby 27.
Tattenhall were reeling at 28-6 as Kyle Adams, 7-37 and Matt Adams, 2-27, tripped the heart of their batting. But they managed to hang on for a draw at 110-9.
Warrington 2nd went down heavily at Cheadle after the home side hit 218-5. Warrington were bowled out for 73, with only Will Fleetwood, 26 and Andy Kirby, 17, reaching double figures.
In the Cheshire League, Lymm Oughtrington Park managed to hang on for a draw after visiting Woodford hit 173, Neil Chadbourne 4-30.
Lymm were 135-9 at the close, Terry Scholes top scoring with 42.
In the Cheshire Alliance, the derby game between Stretton and Glazebury ended in a four wicket win for Stretton.
Glazebury were bowled out for 104, Dave Mason hitting 48 and Dean Lord 23. J Mir took 4-30 and Tim Mullings 3-3.
Stretton got off to a bad start and were struggling at 33-5, Jon Gibbons taking 2-27 and Hakeem Dahou 3-11. But then B Southworth, 30 not out and A Raza, 28 not out, got together to take Stretton to victory.
The tables were turned in the 2nd XI game, however, when Glazebury won by 40 runs.
Batting first, Glazebury reached 172, Ian Black 80, D Tidd 6-39. Stretton were dismissed for 132, V Aslam 36 and Jason Taylor 34. Sean Caine, 3-39 and Mark Rowan, 3-47 were the pick of the Glazebury bowlers.
Appleton’s recent good form continued with a seven wicket win over Ellesmere Port at Lyons Lane.
The visitors were tumbled out for 63, with Aamir Rashid returning the remarkable figures of 7-9 in 10 overs – five of which were maidens. Edward Pugh chipped in with 2-16.
Dom Smith top scored with 28 as Appleton replied with 64-3.
Appleton 2nd went down by eight wickets at Capenhurst.
Andrew Jackson hit 39 and Simon Tomlinson 29 as Appleton hit 146. Capenhurst lost an early wicket but then coasted to victory with 150-2.
Appleton 4th were bowled out for 131 after Port Sunlight had declared on 228-8.
Rylands were beaten by six wickets by Wilmslow Wayfarers after being bowled out for 91. Richard Buck took 2-40 as the Wayfarers replied with 96-4.
Rylands 2nd went down by eight wickets after being bowled out for 84, with the Wayfarers second string replying with 86-2.