THE RSK Cheshire County League division one title race went down to the last match – but unfortunately, Grappenhall finished runners-up.
They won a bizarre match against Congleton, bagging the maximum 25 points after demolishing the visitors for 38 in the 15th over.
But title-rivals Cheadle performed a similar demolition on Marple to finish just ahead of Grappers.
Both clubs are promoted to the ECB Premier division next season.
Grappers made short work of bottom club Congleton, who won the toss and perhaps surprisingly elected to bat first.
Arran McCabe took 3-0 – a hat-trick in the only over he bowled – Ian Hall took 3-13 and Albert Pennington 2-4 in one over as the visitors collapsed for 38.
Left with such a modest target, Grappers hit off the runs in 5.2 overs, Keiran Lawton hammering 30 not out, including three sixes. They lost two wickets – but who cared!
Grappenhall 2nd finished their season with a close game at Didsbury, where the hosts scored 208 all out. Lloyd Milligan took 5-57.
Grappers replied with 190 all out with a couple of overs to spare. Skipper Sunder Yousaf Bhinder top scored with 61 and Milligan 39 not out.
All in all it was an excellent season for Grappenhall, with the 1st XI going back up to the premier division and the 2nd maintaining their place in division one, finishing fourth and just short of promotion. They also got to the T20 finals.
The 3rd XI finished sixth in their division and could also have achieved promotion had not some bizarre administrative decisions gone against them.
It was a different story for Warrington, however, with the Walton Lea club finishing bottom of division two which means they will play next season in division three – the lowest level they have played at for some years.
But they managed a hard-fought draw in their final game, hosting Ashton-on-Mersey.
The visitors batted first and hit 211-5, Muhammad Abid proving Warrington’s best bowler with 3-63.
Warrington hung on at 206-9, James Lewis top-scoring with 68 not out and Harley Barratt 38.
The 2nd XI fared rather better, finishing in a respectable mid-table position.
In the UKFast Cheshire League, Lymm Oughtrington Park lost their final match of a disappointing season which saw them relegated from division one.
Traveling to Bredbury St Marks they asked the home side to bat first and saw them reach 214-8.
J Hughes took 5-41.
Lymm replied with 201, Hughes top scoring with 60 not out, opener M Carr hitting 55 and skipper Travis Scholes 39.
Appleton finished their season in style with a 105-run victory at Irby.
Batting first, Appleton hit 190-9, skipper Adam Pearson hitting 59, Ali Sharif 35 and Richard Buck, 25.
The home side were rolled-over for 85, Rory Kellett taking 4-38 and Josh Coghlan 3-19.
Glazebury won their final match of the season at Saughall, batting first and hitting a challenging
220-8.
Jack Warhurst hammered an impressive 74 and opener Jordan Carroll hit 41.
The home side were bowled out for 122, Kyle Keeble taking 4-37, Matthew Brunt 3-21 and Sam Stanier 2-32.
Glazebury 2nd lost heavily to North East Cheshire at Hurst Lane. The visitors hit 224-4. Tom Whitby taking 3-39 and Glazebury were dismissed for 84.
