Final day is full of agony and ecstasy

Sep 19 2008 Chester Chronicle

OAKMERE and Barrow achieved their promotion dreams on Saturday but there was heartbreak for Chester County Officers.

Stepping up to the Cheshire County League for the first time will be Oakmere, who secured second spot in Division One of the Meller Braggins League after beating Ashley.

Barrow will be coming up from Division Two after finishing second thanks to a comprehensive away win at Winsford, but unfortunately CCO were unable to stave off the spectre of relegation.

A home loss to Northwich sent them down into Division Three – and allowed the mid Cheshire visitors to clinch the title.

CCO chairman Tony Collard said: “Hopefully, the team can recharge their batteries in the winter and come back with renewed vigour next year.”

A good bowling performance by CCO had reduced Northwich to 85-7 with just five overs left, but the visitors recovered to post 130-9.

CCO made a poor start when Mike Rowlands played on, and progress was slow. The innings eventually subsided for 64 all out.

In contrast, there were scenes of celebration at OAKMERE, who will replace Winnington Park in the County League Division Two.

The influential Eaton brothers – skipper Ian and Stewart – were at the crease and scored the runs to take Oakmere out of the Meller Braggins League for the first time.

As Ashley crawled to 155ao (Pete Hutchinson 4-17) before Oakmere scored 160-2. Ian (25no) and Stewart (35no) produced the big finish.

BARROW went into their Division Two showdown with Winsford with one eye on the title, but ultimately they had to settle for the second promotion slot.

Winsford opted to bat first and were soon in trouble at 45-6 from 26 overs. Phil Johnson bagged four wickets to leave the hosts 82 all out.

Barrow lost two early wickets in their reply but a classy 23 from Nick Bell and a forceful 34no from Marlon Barclay saw them reach 83-5 and secure promotion.

Back in Division One, MALPAS beat the drop despite crumbling to an eight- wicket defeat to Congleton.

Malpas had gambled on batting first in the hope of gaining double batting points. Ash Madusanka (57) helped them to 86-3 – but then the wheels came off. First-change seamers Paul Beaumont (5-8) and Mark Potts (2-23) wreaked havoc and polished off the remainder of the innings for a miserly 12 runs in the 30th over.

Congleton coasted home in 29 overs.

ALVANLEY’S last game of the season against already- relegated CHOLMONDELEY ended in a draw.

Alvanley batted first on a benign wicket but soon lost Andy Bennion, caught well at mid-wicket. Marcus Gilbert went for a stoic 35 while skipper Mark Szymura finished unbeaten on 50 to help his side post 162-6.

Chum started their reply well, putting on 50 for the first wicket. They finished on 153-7, Pete Pearce picking up two very late wickets to finish with 6-53 and 50 for the season, bettered only by James Wheelahan’s 55.

In Division Three, BUNBURY signed off for the season with a routine home win over Chelford. The hosts reached 54-4 in response to their opponents’ 53 all out.

In the battle of the two already-promoted sides, KINGSLEY were unable to prevent hosts Stockport from taking the three points they needed to become champions.

Batting first on a slow track, Mark Butcher passed 500 runs for the season with an unbeaten 80 that took his side to a challenging 146-5. The home side held on at 122-9 as the overs ran out.