THERE will be tension on many grounds when the final games of the season are played next Saturday.
But none more so than at Booth’s Park with Toft’s visitors Nantwich needing to win to complete a hat-trick of ECB Premier League titles, while their hosts may themselves need full points to avoid the drop into Division One.
Nantwich find themselves in such an excellent position after sending Urmston to the foot of the table with an eight wickets demolition job at Whitehouse Lane, their seventh 25 pointer from the last eight games.
It should be remembered that the Dabbers made a wretched start to season, their first eight games reading: won 2; drawn 1; cancelled 1; lost 4.
Louis Bentley, scored a superlative 89 not out and Jonny Kettle, 40, as Nantwich coasted to a comfortable 157-2. This was after Urmston had opted to bat and been held to 153-8, Samit Panda 38, Adam Syddall 33 not out, Chris Connolly 4-24, Jimmy Warrington 3-55.
The only other club now capable of pipping Nantwich, Hyde remain second 12 points behind, after beating a disappointing Neston side by six wickets at Parkgate where the home side’s batting - so good in the National and T20 cups - again collapsed. Mark Garrett top-scored with 33 in Neston’s tally of 126, Scott Kirwin 4-27, Joe Dawber 4-28. Hyde replied with 130-4 in 25 overs Tom Twiney 45 leaving Neston with points to gather from their final game – at Macclesfield - to ensure remaining in the top flight.
Hyde task at Marple
Hyde’s chance of pipping Nantwich for the title won’t be easy as they have to visit a determined Marple side, up to their highest Premiership placing of third after winning by eight wickets at Didsbury. An injured player meant Didsbury batted only 10 men, but they mustered only 76 runs, Johann von Schalkwyck 30, Andy Greasley taking 5-30 off 25 tight overs. With Andy Hall unbeaten on 36, Marple had the game won at 78-2.in only 23 overs.
When Toft - without star batsman Jake Hancock who has returned to Oz - pulled off a splendid victory at Alderley Edge to take their hopes of safety into the last game, their match winner was England junior Rob Jones with a splendid all-round performance.
Jones took 4-41 and partnered Danny Hancock, 4-21 to bowl Alderley out for 127, Mark Currie 46, Adam Wildig 37. Toft were in trouble at 112-7, after vital innings from Rob Jones 53, and Henry Hughes 27, but wicket-keeper Pat Ashling, 26 not out saw them through without further loss. Jason Whittaker took two wickets to top the 50 mark for the campaign.
Inconsistent Widnes had one of their better days to end Oxton’s fading hopes at Townfield Lane. With no Lou Vincent, Oxton were held to 174-8, Tom Marsland 52, Gayan Fernando 33, Sam Agarwal 5-42, then had Widnes in trouble at 91-5. In stepped skipper Ian Spencer to score a priceless 48 and partner Sean Moore, 33 not out, in a sixth wicket stand worth 70 which led to a final tally of 175-7 and full points. Gayan Fernando took 3-53.
Macclesfield’s collapse continued after an 11.30 a.m. start at Chester Boughton Hall where they were overwhelmed by nine wickets and have now taken only one point from their last three outings.
Macclesfield posted 150, James Crosthwaite 73, Mark Rowland 4-23, Jack Williams 4-57 after which CBH coasted home at 151-1, Warren Goodwin remaining unbeaten with 77 and Mike Robinson 52 in an unbroken stand worth 110.

DEATH OF BRAMHALL STALWART
THE death has occurred of long-serving Bramhall member Kevin Higginbottom-Jones following a freak accident 10 weeks ago when he fell off a step ladder, since when he has been critically ill in Hope Hospital, Salford.
An Offerton GP who had latterly taken up umpiring in the Meller Braggins League, Kevin and his sons Joe and Josh all played for Bramhall and a minutes’ silence was observed before the club’s four weekend games.

SEPTEMBER 8 NEWSLETTER: 2

Grappenhall promoted; tight at bottom
GRAPPENHALL clinched runners-up spot in the First Division behind champions Bowdon when they scraped a 25 runs victory at Irby to send their Wirral hosts to the foot of the table for the first time.
Grappenhall again had Aussie all-rounder Jason Smith to thank especially in the second innings after they had posted only 150, Smith top-scoring with 33, while Irby’s left-arm veteran Rob Houghton had the superb figures of 7-41 off 19.3 overs. Despite a fighting knock of 40 from their own overseas player Josh Mallochan, Irby were bowled out for 125, Adam Roylance taking 3-20 and the superb Smith 3-26.
Grappenhall cannot be caught by any of the chasing pack, led by Bramhall who.recorded their seventh straight victory, by six wickets in their derby clash with Cheadle Hulme at Grove Park. Simon Wilkinson, 4-44 and Nick Bell, 4-47 combined to bowl Cheadle Hulme out for 123, then skipper Nick Cantello hit 49 not out to steer his side to another full points tally in 28 overs.
The relegation issue will not be resolved until the final day with Irby, suddenly 14 points adrift at the bottom and due to visit Heaton Mersey, who lie one place above them after spoiling their double victory the previous week-end with an eight wickets defeat at Bowdon. ‘Mersey totalled 149-9, Pieter Vermeulen 40, Zafir Patel 3-16 and Bowdon blasted their way to 151-2 in 25 overs, Simon Marshall’s 97 leading the way.
Bowdon received the championship trophy from League chairman David Humpage to cap a splendid season.
Mo Ali 7-8 includes hat-trick
The day’s best bowling return came from Bollington’s Mo Ali who had the remarkable figures of 8-3-8-7 in a rout of Sale for 95 at Dane road in including a hat-trick as Sale lost their last five wickets for five runs. Bolly replied with 96-5, Mike Rixon 57, to battle their way out of the bottom two.
Redeeming feature of Oulton Park’s seven wickets home defeat by Christleton was the feat of Rick Moore in becoming the first – and possibly only - League batsman to top 1,000 runs for the season. His innings of 98 carries his tally to 1,089, but was insufficient to take Oulton’s total above a modest 166-7, Ifti Naseer 4-65. Christleton replied with 167-3 in 37 overs, the in-form Iroshan De Silva contributing an unbeaten 91 and Matt Astbury 50.
Bredbury St. Mark’s ensured a mid-table final placing with a 41 runs home win over Brooklands after posting 191-6, Paul Wood 46, Rob Keyworth 42 not out, A.J. Hart 5-87. Brooklands were bowled out for 150, S. Raja 4-31.

Promoted Cheadle and Middlewich to clash
WITH Warrington losing for the second successive week – at Alvanley – Cheadle and Middlewich enter the final round of games as the Second Division’s two promoted clubs. Who goes up as champions will not be known until they meet at Haddon Field in Saturday’s decider with Middlewich enjoying a five points cushion
Cheadle lost for only the second time this season, by one wicket in a tight finish at home to Poynton who could wind-up a creditable third. Cheadle scored 170-7, Paul Sperring 42, John Prince 40, Damien Stringer 4-61. Poynton’s response was in trouble until Matt Heathcote, 51 joined Jake Turner, 46 to pull things round and even then a 5-32 return from skipper Sperring almost saved it for his side before Poynton closed at 174-9.
Middlewich went top with a five wickets win at Tattenhall which leaves the Flacca men worried about their future. John Gibbon top scored with 47 in the Tattenhall innings of 152, Gavin Tomlinson 6-55, Stuart Price 3-48. Andy Cole went first ball in Middlewich’s reply which improved with Jamie Williamson, 59 and Rob Cook-Sievwright, 46 at the crease, enabling them to wind up on 154-5.
Interesting at bottom
It becomes much more interesting at the foot of the table. Already relegated, Malpas lost their 13th game by five wickets at Stockport after being bowled out for 99, A. Crabb 40, James Dunley 4-26, Stockport replying with 100-5, Tom Facer and Calum Davies both 31 not out.
But the clubs immediately above Malpas had differing fortunes, especially Alvanley who beat Warrington at Frodsham Road. The visitors totalled 216-5, James Hughes 79, Robin Fisher back in the wickets with 4-33. Alvanley replied with 217-5, Andy Hayhurst leading the way with an unbeaten 46.
This gives them a fighting chance of swapping the second relegation spot, with Upton and Stockport Georgians both losing. Upton were trounced by 119 runs at Congleton, who ran up the highest team and individual tallies of the season with 305-4 (Jye Bailey 142, Aaron Browe 65, Kevin Waterhouse 55 not out), then bowled Upton out for 186, John Higginbotham 5-55.
Likewise Georgians were well beaten, by 61 runs at Timperley who totalled 201, Craig Grindley 93, Simon Normanton 6-60. Georgians mustered 140, Mark Vincent 54, Chris Page 3-20.

o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

UPTON WIN JOHN NORTH U17 CUP
UPTON beat Hyde by four wickets off the last ball to win an exciting John North Under 17 Cup final at Old Greasby Road on Sunday.
Hyde scored 92-9, Man of the Match Mike Schofield contributing 43, Matthew Smith 3-7. Upton replied with 93-6, Matthew Ingram top-scoring with 25, after which David Williams scored two runs off the final delivery to bring the trophy back to Upton for the first time since 2003.
The trophy and other awards were presented by Upton President Harry Sharrock .
SEPTEMBER 8 NEWSLETTER: 3

Saturday’s details

ECB PREMIER LEAGUE

ALDERLEY EDGE (won toss) v TOFT
Alderley Edge 127 (55 overs: M. Currie 46, A.Wildig 37, D. Hancock 4-21, R. Jones 4-41);
Toft 128-7 (42 overs: R Jones 53, H Hughes 27, P Ashling 26no).
Toft (25 pts.) beat Alderley Edge (3 pts.) by 3 wickets.

CHESTER BOUGHTON HALL (toss) v MACCLESFIELD
Macclesfield 150 (51 overs: J. Crosthwaite 73, R. Hough 31, M. Rowland 4-23, J. Williams 4-57);
Chester 151-1 (29 overs: W. Goodwin 77no, M. Robinson 52no = 111 for 2nd wicket).
Chester Boughton Hall (25 pts.) beat Macclesfield (0 pts.) by 9 wickets.

DIDSBURY (t) MARPLE
Didsbury 76-9 ( - overs: J. Van Schalkwyck 30; only 10 batted due to injury, A.Greasley 5-30);
Marple 78-2 (23 overs: A Hall 36no).
Marple (25 pts.) beat Didsbury (0 pts.) by 8 wickets.

NANTWICH v URMSTON (toss)
Urmston 153-8 (55 overs: S. Panda 38, A. Syddall 33no, C. Connolly 4-24, J. Warrington 3-51);
Nantwich 157-2 (41 overs: L. Bentley 89no, J. Kettle 40).
Nantwich (25 pts.) beat Urmston (0 pts.) by 8 wickets.

NESTON v HYDE (toss)
Neston 126 (45 overs: M Garrett 33, C. Hackett 30, S. Kirwin 4-27, J Dawber 4-28);
Hyde 130-4 (25 overs: T Twiney 45).
Hyde (25 pts.) beat Neston (1 pt.) by 6 wickets.

OXTON v WIDNES (toss)
Oxton 174-8 (55 overs: T. Marsland 52, C. Davies 35, G. Fernando 33, S. Agarwal 5-41);
Widnes 175-7 (48 overs: I. Spencer 48, A Ford 37, S. Moore 33no, G. Fernando 3-53)
Widnes (25 pts.) beat Oxton (5 pts) by 3 wickets

FIRST DIVISION

BOWDON (toss) v HEATON MERSEY:
Heaton Mersey 149-9 (50 overs: P Vermeulen 40, W Rashid 38, J. Ainscough 37, Z. Patel 3-16, G. Edwards 3-41, S. Marshall 3-50);
Bowdon 151-2 (25 overs: S Marshall 97, G Parker 32no = 111 for 2nd wicket).
Bowdon (25 pts.) beat Heaton Mersey (2 pts.) by 8 wickets.

BREDBURY ST. MARK’S (toss) v BROOKLANDS
Bredbury 191-6 (50 overs: P. Wood 46, R. Keyworth 42no, A.J. Hart 5-87).
Brooklands 150 (48 overs: A. Edwards 46, S. Raja 4-31).
Bredbury St. Mark’s (25pts.) beat Brooklands (3 pts.) by 41 runs.

CHEADLE HULME v BRAMHALL (tioss?):
Cheadle Hulme 123 (34 overs: P. Balderson 22, S. Wilkinson 4-44, N. Bell 4-47);
Bramhall 125-4 (28): N. Cantello 49no).
Bramhall (25 pts.) beat Cheadle Hulme (1 pt.) by 6 wickets.

IRBY v GRAPPENHALL (toss)
Grappenhall 150 ( - overs: J. Smith 33, R. Houghton 7-41);
Irby 125 ( - overs: J. Mallochan 40, A. Roylance 3-20, J. Smith 3-26).
Grappenhall (25 pts.) beat Irby (4 pts.) by 25 runs.

OULTON PARK v CHRISTLETON (toss)
Oulton Park 166-7 (50 overs: R Moore 98 = first league batsman to 1,000 runs, I. Naseer 4-65, I. De Silva 3-67);
Christleton 167-3 (37 overs: I. De Silva 91no, M. Astbury 50no = 111 unbroken for 3rd wicket).
Christleton (25 pts.) beat Oulton Park (5 pts.) by 7 wickets.

SALE v BOLLINGTON (toss)
Sale 95 ( - overs: W. Lubbe 24, M.Ali 7-8);
Bollington 96-5 ( - overs: M. Rixon 57, R. Halkon 2-20).
Bollington (25 pts.) beat Sale (2 pts.) by 5 wickets.

SEPTEMBER 1 NEWSLETTER: 4

SECOND DIVISION

ALVANLEY (won toss) v WARRINGTON:
Warrington 216-5 (50 overs: J.Hughes 70, R. Heaney 48, M. Agar 38, M. Rudd 32no, R. Fisher 4-33).
Alvanley 217-5 (48 overs: A Hayhurst 46no, M. Geddes 45, D. Shewring 39no).
Alvanley (25 pts.) beat Warrington (10 pts.) by 5 wickets.

CHEADLE (toss) v POYNTON:
Cheadle 170-7 (50 overs: P. Sperring 42, J. Prince 40, N. Reid 31, D. Stringer 4-61);
Poynton 174-9 (49 overs: M Heathcote 51, J. Turner 46, P. Sperring 5-32). This result was not telephoned.
Poynton (25 pts.) beat Cheadle (8 pts.) by 1 wicdet.

CONGLETON (toss) v UPTON
Congleton 305-4 (50 overs: J. Bailey 142, A. Browe 65, K Waterhouse 55no);
Upton 186 (40 overs: J Higginbotham 5-55).
Congleton (25 pts.) beat Upton (4 pts.) by 119 runs

STOCKPORT (toss) v MALPAS
Malpas 99 (34 overs: A. Crabb 40, J. Dunley 4-26);
Stockport 100-5 (29 overs: T Facer 31no, C. Davies 31no).
Stockport (25 pts.) beat Malpas ( 2 pts.) by 5 wickets.

TATTENHALL (toss) v MIDDLEWICH:
Tattenhall 152 (48 overs: J Gibbon 47, G. Tomlinson 6-55);
Middlewich 154-5 (36 overs: J Williamson 59, R. Cook-Sievwright 46).
Middlewich (25 pts.) beat Tattenhall (4 pts.) by 5 wickets.

TIMPERLEY v STOCKPORT GEORGIANS (toss)
Timperley 201 (50 overs: C. Grindley 93, M. Ness 36, S. Normanton 6-60);
Stockport Georgians 140 (40 overs: M. Vincent 54, S. Vincent 33, C. Page 3-20).
Timperley (25 pts.) beat Stockport Georgians (5 pts.) by 62 runs

PICK OF WEEK

Premier Division. Batting: Louis Bentley (Nantwich) 89no v Urmston. Bowling: A Greasley (Marple) 5-30 v Didsbury. All-rounder: Rob Jones (Toft) 53 and 4-42 v Alderley Edge.

First Division. Rick Moore (Oulton Park) 98 v Christleton. Bowling: Mo Ali (Bollington ) 7-8 v Sale.
All-rounder: Simon Marshall (Bowdon) 92 and 3-50 v Heaton Mersey.

Second Division. Batting: oJye Bailey (Congleton) 142 v Upton. Bowling: Simon Normanton (Stockport Georgians) 6-60 v Timperley. All-rounder: P. Sperring (Cheadle) 42 and 5-32 v Poynton.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Leading individual stats to September 1 (o = overseas player)

PREMIER LEAGUE (top five batsmen): K.Sawas (Macclesfield) 919 runs; D.Berry (Hyde) 819; L.Dixon (CBH) 761; oA.McGuinness (Marple) 696; oJ Hancock (Toft) 690.
Top five bowlers: J. Warrington (Nantwich) 53 wickets; A. Birley (Oxton) 50; J. Whittaker (Alderley Edge) 49; J. Williams (CBH) 45; A. Greasley (Marple) 44.
Wicket-keeper: A. Worrall (Alderley Edge) 19 c & 6 st = 25 victims.

FIRST DIVISION batting: R. Moore (Oulton Park) 991 runs; oW. Lubbe (Sale) 819; I. De Silva (Christleton) 637; S. Marshall (Bowdon) 596; oG. Parker (Bowdon) 566.
Bowling: R. Halkon (Sale) 45 wickets; A.J. Hart (Brooklands) and R. Houghton (Irby) both 43; S Wilkinson (Bramhall) 42; G. Edwards (Bowdon) and G. Emmett (Oulton Park) both 41.
Wicket-keeper: oP. Vermeulen (Heaton Mersey) 26c.

SECOND DIVISION batting: oT. Hyslop (Tattenhall) 567; J. Cornford (Middlewich) 519; oM. Macquet (Timperley) 517; oJ. Bailey (Congleton) 492; R. Barber (Stockport) 464.
Bowling: oK. Adams (Warrington) 81 wickets; G. Tomlinson (Middlewich) 45; T Facer (Stockport) 44; I Grindley (Timperley) 41; P. Sperring (Cheadle) 41.
Wicket-keeper: R. Sandford (Tattenhall) 18c &3 st = 21 victims.
SEPTEMBER 8 NEWSLETTER: 5

Tables after 21 games ….one week to go

ECB Premier P W D A/C L BAT BOWL TOTAL
(25) (2) (7)

NANTWICH 21 10 3 4 4 17 18 319
HYDE 21 8 4 4 5 51 20 307
MARPLE 21 8 6 5 2 30 17 294
CHESTER BO. HALL 21 9 4 0 8 28 28 289
OXTON 21 8 2 5 6 29 20 288
MACCLESFIELD 21 9 1 3 8 16 15 279
ALDERLEY EDGE 21 6 5 4 6 32 32 252
NESTON 21 6 3 3 9 22 26 225
TOFT 21 6 5 1 9 18 38 223
WIDNES 21 6 0 6 9 10 18 220
DIDSBURY 21 5 2 5 9 25 24 213
URMSTON 21 4 3 4 10 44 24 202

Division 1 P W T D C L BAT BOWL TOTAL
(25) (18) (2) (7)

BOWDON 21 15 0 0 3 3 10 3 409 champions
GRAPPENHALL 21 11 0 1 4 5 22 15 342 promoted
BRAMHALL 21 9 1 2 4 5 8 13 296
CHRISTLETON 21 7 0 4 3 7 35 31 270
OULTON PARK 21 6 0 7 2 6 60 31 269
SALE 21 7 0 3 6 5 15 17 255
BREDBURY ST. MK. 21 4 0 6 4 7 66 35 241
CHEADLE HULME 21 5 0 3 4 9 22 29 210
BROOKLANDS 21 5 0 7 1 8 25 32 203
BOLLINGTON 21 4 0 5 6 6 31 20 203
HEATON MERSEY 21 5 0 4 4 8 17 21 199
IRBY 21 3 0 3 3 12 46 37 185

Bredbury v Bramhall on June 16 was a level scores draw: Bramhall 18 tie pts. Bredbury 11 pts.

Division 2 P W D C L BAT BOWL TOTAL
(25) (2) (7)

MIDDLEWICH 21 12 6 2 1 13 25 364 promoted
CHEADLE 21 12 2 5 2 8 12 359 promoted
POYNTON 21 10 4 4 3 24 20 330
WARRINGTON 21 10 2 4 5 22 20 324
CONGLETON 21 8 3 4 6 26 20 280
STOCKPORT 21 7 8 2 4 35 31 271
TIMPERLEY 21 7 2 3 9 25 26 251
TATTENHALL 21 5 4 3 9 18 24 196
STOCKPORT GEO. 21 4 5 5 7 17 33 195
UPTON 21 4 3 4 10 25 28 187
ALVANLEY 21 4 3 1 13 27 44 184
MALPAS 21 1 3 2 15 31 30 106 relegated

Aggregate table
TOP six clubs in the Aggregate table (1st and 2nd XI results combined) including games on September 1:

1. Middlewich 661 points
2. Oxton 631
3. Grappenhall 615
4. Congleton 611
5. Warrington 599
6. Poynton 597

SEPTEMBER 8 NEWSLETTER: 6

September 1 pitch & outfield marks

ECB Premier League
Hyde v CBH: pitch – 5-4-4-4 = 17; outfield – 4-5-5-5 = 19.
Macclesfield v Oxton: 4-3-4-3 = 14; 4-4-4-4 = 16.
Marple v Neston: 4-4-4-3 = 15; 4-5-5-5 = 19.
Toft v Didsbury: 4-4-4-4 = 16; 4-5-4-5 = 18.
Urmston v Alderley Edge: 4-4-4-4 = 16; 5-5-5-5 = 20.
Widnes v Nantwich: 4-3-5-4 = 16; 4-5-5-5 = 19.

First Division
Bollington v Cheadle Hulme: 4-4-4-4 = 16; 5-3-5-3 = 16.
Bramhall v Bredbury: 3-4-5-3 = 15; 4-4-5-5 = 18.
Brooklands v Oulton Park: 3-4-3-4 = 14; 4-5-4-5 = 18.
Christleton v Irby: 5-4-5-4 = 18; 5-5-5-5 = 20.
Grappenhall v Bowdon: 3-4-4-3 = 14; 4-4-5-5 = 18.
Heaton Mersey v Sale: 5-4-5-5 = 19; 5-5-5-5 = 20.
Played on Sunday: Heaton Mersey v Bollington: 5-4-5-4 = 18; 5-5-5-5 = 20.

Second Division
Malpas v Timperley: 4-4-3-4 = 15; 5-5-4-3 = 17.
Middlewich v Alvanley: 5-5-5-5 = 20; 5-5-5-5 = 20 FULL HOUSE !
Poynton v Tattenhall: 3-3-3-3 = 12; 4-4-4-5 = 17.
Stockport Georgians v Congleton: 4-4-4-4 = 16; 3-3-5-5 = 16.
Upton v Cheadle: 4-4-4-4 = 16; 4-4-4-4 = 16.
Warrington v Stockport: 2 (inconsistency) - 4-3-2 - ( turn) =11; 4-5-5-4 = 18.
All 1st XI and relevant 2nd XI Captains submitted reports on umpires to coordinator Ken Spilsbury.

League dinner on October 5
CLUBS are again are reminded about the League’s 38th Annual Presentation Dinner at Mere Golf & Country Club on Friday, October 5 (7 for 7.30 p.m.). A poster has been circulated which clubs are urged to display.
Guest speaker is Graham Poll, who will be talking about his experiences as a World Cup football referee and in the Premier League. MC is the popular John Gwynne,. There is no increase in price which remains at £30 or £28 for under 18s. Clubs will be asked nearer the date to give exact numbers to organiser John Bygate.
All trophies due for presentation at the dinner need to be returned to League Secretary Geoff Wellsteed as soon as possible. They should be engraved to date and cleaned.
O Players Player of the Year ballot forms have been despatched inviting all 1st XI cricketers to vote for the players of their choice. Early returns are in from Didsbury, Sale and Middlewich Please keep them coming.

In brief …..
O APPROVALS to play for the first time in remaining games have been granted to Will Appleton (Heaton Mersey), Ian Wrench (Congleton) and Barry Mitchell (Tattenhall).
O CLUBS who still need late supplies of cricket balls should contact League Treasurer Andy Woods. Tel. 01244 400 219 (work mobile) or by e-mail on andrew@hargreaveswoods.co.uk
O HAVING difficulty leaving Saturday evening results on the dedicated phoneline 01606 888 745 ? Then please ring 01606 88 3715 as an alternative. There are transmission problems
O CHESHIRE Cricket Board are inviting senior players to complete a survey on cricket in the county. They can do so by tabbing into: http//www.cheshirecricketboard.co.uk/survey.htm
O UMPIRES & Scorers Association’s end of season meeting is at Sale on Wednesday, September 19 (8 p.m.). Novel feature will be a Q&A session with three leading captains: James Duffy (Cheshire), Gareth Edwards (Bowdon) and Paul Sperring (Cheadle). It will be followed by a hot pot at the subsidised cost of £2 per head.
O SEEKING an overseas player from the League after a late withdrawal are Thomson CC from Geelong near Melbourne. Previous Cheshire players to have enjoyed winters at Thomson include Andy Hall, Danny Leech, Jonny Kettle, Chris Davies and Louis Bentley. Air fare, accommodation and work are offered. E-mail contact is jaybowman41@hotmail.com
O CHESHIRE meet Buckinghamshire at Marple on Tuesday, September 11 in the quarter-final of the Spitfire 60 Plus county championship (12.30 p.m.).
O AN ARTICLE about Marple’s progress over the past few seasons brightened up the pages of The Cricket Paper last Wednesday. Marple chairman and ace off-spinner Andy Greasley divulged that he has no intention of retiring and hopes to continue giving County League batsmen problems in 2013 – at the age of 53 – when his club’s aim is to win the Premiership title.

SEPTEMBER 8 NEWSLETTER: 7

Scott Kirwin on Oman tour
HYDE all-rounder Scott Kirwin has been selected to represent the League Cricket Conference on the Club Conference tour to Oman in October.
The tour is being partly financed by the ECB who asked for representation from all three UK Conferences.
The Autumn meeting of the League Conference at Cleckheaton, near Bradford on Saturday, September 29 will consider the future of the President’s Trophy, an inter-league competition which has been running since 1974. Entries have been dwindling in recent seasons and the results of a questionairre cast doubt on its viability. The Cheshire County League withdrew in 2009 and have not arranged any representative matches in 2012 for the first time.
This season’s President’s Trophy final was due to take place on Sunday, September 9 between the Nottingham Premier League and the holders, North Staffs & South-Cheshire League, in Nottingham.
The Shropshire Premier League and the Shropshire League are to combine in 2013 as the Shropshire County League.
In another upheaval, the Durham Senior, Durham Coast and Durham County League will all cease to exist at the end of the current season. A total of 25 clubs will become founders of a new Durham League, playing another once before splitting into two divisions in 2014. The North-East Premier League will take in other clubs from the extinct Durham Leagues and enlarge into two divisions in 2013.

Weaverham win first Meller Braggins title
WEAVERHAM clinched their first Meller Braggins Cheshire League Division One title when they drew with Oakmere and nearest rivals Dasvenham lost at Mobberley on Saturday. Both clubs will be promoted to the CCL in 2013.
RESULTS of First Division games on Saturday:
Ashley 160-7 dec. Ashton on Mersey 132-9; Hale Barns 143 Lindow 146-9 dec.; Northwich 210-8 dec. Winnington Park 172-8; Runcorn 181-9 dec. Prestbury 62; Weaverham 253-6 dec. Oakmere 180-8.

PLACINGS after 21 games: 1. Weaverham 429 points (champions and promoted); 2. Davenham 364 (runners-up and promoted); 3. Hale Barns 261; 4. Mobberley 259; 5. Runcorn 251; 6. Oakmere 249; 7. Prestbury 246; 8.Winnington Park 239; 9. Ashton on Mersey 236; 10. Ashley 231; 11. Northwich 230; 12. Lindow 203 (relegated).
Chester County Officers are champions of Division Two with Trafford MV relegated. Chelford have won Division 3 and Glazebury are relegated to the Cheshire Alliance.

FINALS DAY at Winnington Park on Sunday, September 2, saw Weaverham beat Runcorn by 32 runs to win the 1st XI knock-out . Scores: Weaverham 122-4 Runcorn 90-8.
Davenham won the 2nd XI final beating Romiley & Dinting by four wickets. Scores: R&D 85-8 Davenham 88-6.
The latest Pitch Table is topped by Bunbury with a mark of 4.78 (out of a maximum 5.00). Weaverham are ninth and Davenham 10th, both with a figure of 4. Glazebury are bottom with 2.50
The Fair Play table is currently led by Alderley Park with 4.29 (maximum 5.00). Weaverham are 12th with 4.07 and Davenham 32nd with 3.72. Bottom are Winsford with 3.50.

FINAL fixtures in the First Division on Saturday, September 15 (12.30 p.m., tea at close of play): Davenham v Runcorn; Hale Barns v Northwich; Lindow v Heaton Mersey; Oakmere v Mobberley; Prestbury v Ashley; Winnington Park v Weaverham.

Over 40s Finals on Sunday
THE Over 40s section play-offs, sponsored by TailorMade Group Pensions will be played at Urmston on Sunday, September 16 (11.30 am).
The draw is: Neston v Urmston Tigers (on main ground); Alsager Dabbers v Bollington Veterans (on second ground), followed by tea at 2.15 pm. and the final at 3 pm.
O A mandatory meeting of Over 40s reps. is to be held at Warrington on Thursday. October 11 (7.15 p.m.).
Applications and resignations should be sent to organiser Mike Talbot-Butler before that date if possible.
Among new proposals is a play-off between the winners and runners-up in each group with the aim of retaining competitive interest until the final week.

WIMBLEDON WIN ECB t20
SURREY championship winners Wimbledon beat Northern (Liverpool Competition) in the final of the ECB National Club t20 at Edgbaston last Thursday. Wimbledon defeated the North-West Regional final conquerors of Neston by seven wickets, replying with 91-3 to Northern’s all out 91.
In the semi-finals, Northern beat Chester le Street (NE Premier League) by 11 runs and Wimbledon eliminated Cuckney (Notts Premier League champions) by 17 runs.
The full day’s play was televised live on Sky, showing the huge Edgbaston ground virtually deserted. This was not surprising as the host club were beating Worcestershire at nearby New Road to win the county championship, a match strangely not televised by Sky.
SEPTEMBER 8 NEWSLETTER: 8

Saturday, September 15 ….
final fixtures & umpires

ECB PREMIER LEAGUE (12 noon)

DIDSBURY v ALDERLEY EDGE John Lofthouse & Glyn Roboerts
MACCLESFIELD v NESTON Alistair Davies & Chris Smith
MARPLE v HYDE Trevor Burnett & Steve Walton
TOFT v NANTWICH Dion Kelly & Ged Kinsey
URMSTON v OXTON Paul Herring & Derick van Rensburg
WIDNES v CHESTER BOUGHTON HALL Barrie Burns & Ian Greensmith

DIVISION 1 (12.30 pm)

BOLLINGTON v BOWDON Stuart Anderson & Ken Simpson
BRAMHALL v BROOKLANDS Dave Goulding & John Lowe
CHEADLE HULME v SALE Don Flanagan & Tony Morris
CHRISTLETON v BREDBURY ST. MARK’S Peter Hanaby & Allan Lewis
GRAPPENHALL v OULTON PARK Jon Hacking & Graham Harris
HEATON MERSEY v IRBY Wyn Harris & Phil Prince

DIVISION 2 (12.30 p.m.)

MALPAS v STOCKPORT GEORGIANS Ron Bedson & Ray Prescott
MIDDLEWICH v CHEADLE Howard Briggs & Chris Moore
POYNTON v CONGLETON Bob Cunningham & David Moss
STOCKPORT v ALVANLEY Garry Hambleton & Ken Rothwell
UPTON v TIMPERLEY Ian Wilson & Gary Zimmer
WARRINGTON v TATTENHALL Ankit Jain & Jim Whitehead

2nd XI PREMIER DIVISION (12.30 pm)

ALDERLEY EDGE v DIDSBURY No panel umpires available
CHEADLE v URMSTON Club umpire & no panel umpire available
CHESTER BOUGHTON HALL v GRAPPENHALL Clive Rice & no panel umpire available
HYDE v BRAMHALL No panel umpire available & Club umpire
NANTWICH v TOFT Neville Abberley & Club umpire
NESTON v MACCLESFIELD Two club umpires

Last word …..

THE headstone of Russell J. Larsen in Logan City Cemetery, Logan, Utah reads as follows:
Russell had five rules for men to follow for a happy life:
1. It’s important to have a woman who cooks, cleans up and has a job;
2. It’s important to have a woman who can make you laugh;
3. It’s important to have a woman you can trust and doesn’t lie to you;
4 It’s important to have a woman who is good in bed
5. It’s very, very important that these four women don’t get to know each other, else …
… You may end up Dead like me.

Mike.t-b@virgin. net: September 10, 2012