WITH back-to-back promotions already secured, Chester County Officers can get their hands on a second successive league title this Saturday.
They host Aston at their Mannings Lane ground knowing a win would guarantee them top spot in Division Two of the Meller Braggins League with one game still to go.
The Officers made sure of their top-two finish on Saturday when they claimed a convincing win at CHOLMONDELEY.
The wicket was damp but firm and on winning the toss, Chester decided to bat.
Mike Rowlands (39) and Stuart Putson (19) saw off some tricky seam bowling and posted a great foundation of 65.
Chester dipped to 84-4 but Roger Watt stepped up to the mark, scoring 58no from 43 balls including four sixes and six fours to help his side reach 180-7.
After tea, Chester needed a few early wickets – and they duly arrived.
The hosts were reduced to 3-2 as Chum struggled to get to grips with the bowling of Mike Clarke (2-15), Steve Johnson and Mike Jones, who finished with figures of 2-20 from seven overs.
The lower order batsmen tried to salvage something from the game but after Johnson took his wicket tally to 4-45 from 19 with catches from Rhys Thomas and J Afridi, it was slipping away.
With two wickets needed for victory, John Coppock was brought into the attack and he promptly bagged 2-2 from two overs to have Chum all out for 90 (Trevor Fabian 33).
It meant CCO claimed 25 points while their hosts finished with just four.
With rivals Kingsley losing out to Bunbury and taking only five points, Chester had done enough to guarantee promotion.
They now hope to finish the season on a high by clinching top spot and the Division Two title.
