Grappers start with a win

GRAPPENHALL got off to the best possible start as they returned to the top flight of Cheshire cricket – with an exciting victory over strong opposition at Oxton.
A good start was vital for Grappers if they are to avoid a repeat of what happened the last time they won promotion to the premier division of the Cheshire County League – “instant” relegation.
Skipper Richard Green made the bold decision to bat first – and it soon paid off. James McCoy hit a superb 97, his brother Luke scored 44, Green himself chipped in with 37 and there was an unbeaten 34 from new Aussie all-rounder Josh McClelland.
Grappenhall finished on a formidable 266-6.
Oxton accepted the challenge and fell only 18 runs short, the last wicket falling at 248. McClelland made an impressive start with the ball, bagging 3-55, Daniel Hawke took 2-89 and Luke Williams took 3-28.
Grappenhall 2nd also started their campaign with a win at Broad Lane.
Visiting Middlewich were held to 157-7, R Wilder taking 3-39 and Kevin Jones 2-10. Grappers then stormed to victory, Will Sharp hitting 39, Albert Pennington 49 not out and skipper Mike Holden 36 not out.
In division two, Warrington also got off to a good start with a two wicket win over Poynton at Walton Lea.
The visitors were held to 176-9, With Kyle Adams, Rob Magee and Simon Hewitt taking two wickets each. Warrington replied with `177-8, Chris Kirby hitting 32 and skipper Richard Heaney top scoring with 48.
Warrington 2nd started with an eight wicket defeat at the hands of Bramhall, despite opener Andy Kirby starting his season with a century – 104 out of an all-out total of 187. Opening partner James Rudd hit 39, but the rest of the order contributed little.
Bramhall replied with 188-2, opener Tim Wood also hitting 104!
In the Cheshire League, Lymm Oughtrington Park got their season off on the right foot with victory in a low-scoring game against Aston, who were dismissed for 61, Neil Chadbourne taking 5-24. Lymm replied with 64-5.
Glazebury marked their return to the Cheshire Alliance with a six wicket win over Wistaston Village.
The visitors were dismissed for 61, veteran Jon Gibbons taking 5-17. Glazebury got off to a shakey start, but Dave Mason, 14 not out and Chris Lord, 22, steadied the ship to ease the way to victory on 62-4.
Appleton held on grimly for a draw at Haslington after the home side hit 227-8 declared. Aamir Rashid took 5-60.
Skipper Richard Clarke was the mainstay of Appleton’s reply and was 83 not out at the close with Appleton on 177-9. But last man Edward Pugh’s 30 not out was also vital to saving the match.
Appleton 2nd beat the Haslington second string by six wickets at Lyons Lane. The visitors were dismissed for 138, Andrew Jackson taking 4-6 and Michael Ormson 3038. Appleton cantered to 142-4, Mike Arnold 35, Peter Hesford 48 and David Lomas 34 not out.
The first local “derby” of the season – Appleton 3rd v Glazebury 2nd – ended in victory for Appleton.
Glazebury batted first and were all out for 186, Tom Wilkinson hitting a fine 86.
Ben Webster, 4-40 and Paul Grumley, 3-37 were the pick of Appleton’s bowlers.
Appleton coasted to victory with 190-4, Martin Cooper hitting 83 not out and Inzy Rashid 46 not out.
Rylands opened their season with a defeat. Batting first against Old Parkonians they were all out for 169 and the visitors replied with 172-8.
But Rylands 2nd celebrated an eight wicket victory at Audlem.
Mark Green took 5-55 as the home side were dismissed for 189 and Rylands replied with 195-2, Mark Barker 73 not out and Geoff Shaw 59 not out.
Stretton went down by four wickets at Ellesmere Port after being dismissed for 104. The home side replied with 108-6.
In the 2nd XI game at Stretton, Ellesmere Port hit 165 and dismissed the home side for 121.