Another heavy defeat for Grappers

GRAPPENHALL’S tough season in the Vivio Cheshire County League premier division continued as they suffered another heavy defeat – this time away at Bowdon.
At first, Grappers’ response to a big score from the home side looked promising but in the end they finished well short of their target and obtained a meagre five points to drop to second to  bottom in the league table.
They now look to be involved in a desperate struggle with three other clubs all trying to avoid relegation.
Bowdon elected to bat first on a variable track and at 78-2 there was a sniff of a chance that Grappenhall could claim the game.
But a century partnership swung the game Bowdon’s way and although Saqib Mahmood took 5-42 and Sam Guest 3-51, the home side finished on 251 all out.
Jimmy McCoy and Adam Roylance looked in no trouble against the Bowdon seam attack and raced to 64 before Roylance went for 28. McCoy went soon after for 40 and after that only Warwick Abrahim, 25 and Mahmood, 32 not out, reached double figures.
Grappers finished on 145 – a defeat by 106 runs.
Grappenhall 2nd ran out comfortable winners over Bowdon at Broad Lane.
A depleted Bowdon struggled to 100-9 in 45 overs, Mike Holden bowling with genuine pace and aggression to take 3-24.
Grappenhall coasted to victory by eight wickets inside 19 overs, in-form Albert Pennington hitting 50 and another 18-year-old, Ben Bodha, hitting 28 not out.
Grappenhall 3rd were well beaten by Cheadle at Broad Lane after the visitors posted 181-9. Stanley Pennington and Arran McCabe both took three wickets.
Grappers’ strong batting line-up collapsed and they were all out for 94.
Away from the woes of the premiership league table, Grappenhall enjoyed a fantastic win in the quarter finals of the T20 competition at Hyde despite being set a daunting target of 1993.
Albert Pennington hit a superb 91 not out and there were other notable contributions from stand-in skipperAdam Royloance, 55 and 27 not out from Gaz Burns.
Finals day is at Upton on Sunday, July 26 and Grappers have as good a chance as anyone else of going all the way.
In division two, Warrington stayed top of the table with a six wicket win over Bredbury St Marks at Walton Lea.
Warrington hit 237-4 after being put in and then dismissed the visitors for 132.
The win leaves Warrington on 269 points ahead of second placed Bollington, with 239.
Warrington 2nd took a heavy beating at Oxton where the home side hit 221-5 and then bowled out the visitors for 120 in 26.1 overs.
In the TACS Partnership Cheshire League, Lymm Oughtrington Park were held to a draw by Oakmere at Oughtrington Lane.
Batting first, Lymm reached 177-9, Travis Scholes 42, Paul Tong 40 and Matt Carr 31.  Oakmere were hanging on 135-9 at the close. Matthew Bradshaw, 3-30, was the pick of the Lymm bowlers.
In the Cheshire Alliance, Glazebury dropped to third place after an uncharacteristic batting collapse against Stalybridge St Pauls at Hurst Lane.
The visitors were dismissed for a modest 149, Dave Acton, 3-48 and Sam Stanier, 4-29 doing most of the damage.
But then Glazebury were bowled out for an embarrassing 47 with only Wayne Hargreaves and Ian Black getting into double figures, with 15 each.
Stretton were bowled out for 136 at home but then dismissed visiting Groves for 93.
Rylands posted a two wicket win at Frodsham after dismissing the home side for 118. Rylands replied with 122-8, Eddie Platt 25, Wesley Jenkins 31 and Alan Brady 23.