Victory, promotion – but not as champions

GRAPPENHALL won their last match of the season comfortably – but the 25 points haul was not enough to make them champions of the Vivio Cheshire County League division one.
Leaders Didsbury also won to deny Grappers top spot – but both teams are promoted to the ECB Premier division, Grappers going up as runners-up.
Grappenhall travelled to Oxton where the home side batted first and reached 150-9, skipper Adam Roylance taking 6-34.  Grappers lost a couple of quick wickets but then in-form Peter Barnes came up with the goods again, his 72 not out steering the side to a four wicket victory.
Bouncing back to the premier division after just one season is obviously a great result for Grappers but, even though some of the younger players are maturing, the club will need to do some team building if they are to survive at the highest level.
The 2nd XI game at Broad Lane also went Grappenhall’s way. Oxton battef first and posted 179-5, Ben Cagna taking two wickets.
When Grappers batted, Will Sharp scored a powerful 80 supported by young Josh Hayes, who scored a composed 62 not out. Grappers reached their target with six wickets to spare.  Unfortunately, results elsewhere left Grappers in third place in the table – one short of promotion.
Warrington lost their last game of the season by a heavy margin being bowled out for 94 by third placed Oulton Park. Brad McIntosh, 40 and Harley Barratt, 15, were the only batsmen to reach double figures.
Oulton Park hit off the runs for the loss of just one wicket.
Despite the defeat, Warrington survive in the first division, one place above the relegation zone. Again they will have to strengthen their squad if they are not to slip back to the second division.
Warrington 2nd enjoyed a nine wicket victory over Upton, however, bowling out the opposition for 78, Aaron Soni taking 4-21. Warrington coasted to 82-1,  skipper Simon Swain hitting 36 not out and James Sharrock 25 not out.
Lymm Oughtrington Park completed their first season in  the Cheshire League first division in a reasonably comfortable mid-table position, although they suffered a heavy defeat in their final match.
Held to 191-7 by visiting Hale Barns, they made little impact on the visitors’ batting and lost by eight wickets. Lymm’s best batsmen were Jonathan Fletcher, 49, Liam Ramsbottom 34 and skipper Travis Scholes, 33.
Appleton shared the spoils in a hard-fought draw at Aston to finish their first season in the Cheshire League third division just one place short of promotion.
The home side batted first and reached 135-9, Kamthiraj Gavaskar taking 2-36, Aamir Rashid 2-25 and Joe Cooper 2-18.  Appleton were just three runs short of victory with one wicket remaining at the close. Antony Hurst and Andrew Jackson each hit 25.
Stretton, who finished one place behind Appleton in the table, ended their season with a fine win over Langley at Stretton.  Stretton took first strike and reached 158, H Ali 77. The visitors were dismissed for 109, Nikhil Bahl taking 6-20.
At Westminister Park, Stretton 2nd lost by five wickets after being bowled out for 101, C Nesbitt 27 and S Ehmed 23. The home side hit 102-5.
Glazebury lost their last game in the Cheshire Alliance first division, finishing the season mid-table.
Travelling to Pott Shrigley they chose to bat first and were dismissed for 105. The home side lost seven wickets chasing down the target.
Glazebury 2nd romped to a four wicket win over Frodsham at Hurst Lane after bowling them out for 120.
Rylands lost their last match against Trafford Metrovics by eight wickets after being dismissed for 147. But they finished second in the division two table so will move up to the first division next season.