OULTON Park failed to win again and look like relinquishing the County League title.

The championship also looks beyond Oakmere in the Cheshire League.

They needed to beat leaders Brooklands to haul them back into sight, but were beaten. Runners-up and promotion still looks probably for Oakmere, however.

RIGHT MOVE ABROAD COUNTY LEAGUE

ECB Premiership

Neston 196-9 dec Oulton Park 153-9

EVEN Nathan Dumelow at his best – 54 and 6-60 – could not prevent Oulton from being outplayed, but it all helped avoid defeat.

Mark Johns (55) Steve Yates (73 no), Damien Barton (3-40) and Alex Matthews (2-25) were the top performers in Oulton 2nds 198 ao Christleton 2nds 172-8.

Division Two

Grappenhall 181-5 Winnington Park 178 ao

A CONTROVERSIAL decision prevented a rare Winnington victory.

They had their hosts at 55-4 and then took the wicket of skipper Steve Titchard and were into the tail. Then they had appeals for blatant caught behind against Parkinson ignored and the game turned against them.

Earlier Jonny Wales (28), Sean O’Neill (24), Tom Pilling (33), Glinoj Cherian (28) and Greg McKeown (23) had made the runs.

MELLER BRAGGINS LEAGUE

Division One

Oakmere 155-9 dec Brooklands 159-4

OAKMERE’S batsmen failed to get to grips with Brooklands’ bowling attack.

Paul Yearsley (41) and Paul Hutchinson (21) gave them a 42-run opening stand, but Oakmere failed to establish a momentum.

Another marathon spell from Stewart Eaton (1-52 in 17 overs) restricted the Brooklands’ scoring rate and wickets from Pete Hutchinson (2-25) caused fleeting concern at best among the likely title winners.

Oakmere held their annual single wicket tournament on Sunday with Sid Kara defeating Pete Hutchinson in a close fought final.

The 2nd XI were washed out without a ball being bowled.

Ashton-on-M 124-8 dec Davenham 125-4

CHRIS Latham set up Davenham’s victory.

He took 6-56 and with Andy Simmons and Phil Sharples claiming a wicket apiece all Davenham needed to do was avoid a batting flop.

Dave Holden (26), James Loveridge (29) and Sharples (22) made sure it didn’t happen.

Division Two

Winsford 120-6 Lymm OP 116-9 dec

SKIPPER Barry Crellin returned from his holidays to lead Winsford to their second successive victory.

Andy Beswick (2-21 off 17 overs) tied Lymm down but James Tierney (4-43 off nine) took more wickets.

Mike Clarke’s 51 was the central plank of the Winsford innings, along which they crept to victory with nine balls to spare with a number of minor contributions.

Weaverham 226-4 Alderley Park 102

WEAVERHAM posted their second highest score of the season and extended their unbeaten run to 10 games.

Steve Pinnington (70) and Rob McMillan (94) shared 154 for the third wicket. Gregg Ayrns chipped in 21, before Chris Hemmings (4-34), Matt Bebbington (3-20) and Allen Bell (2-3) ran through the wickets.

Alderley 2nds 129-4 Weaverham 2nds 125 ao (Kenny Roberts 28, Phil Harris 25).

Northwich 69-1 Wilmslow 68 ao

THIS was an easy win for the leaders.

Nigel Goulding (1-7) and Mike Brandon (2-12) restricted Wilmslow to 14-3 off the first 17 overs. Stuart Hayes (4-22) and John Price (2-12) did the rest.

Aiden Baker (29 no) topped the scoring.

Other scores: Northwich 2nds 185-3 (Matt Jamieson 74, Simon James 65, Ant Shaw 22 no) Mere 2nds 135-7 (Mark O’Neill 3-19); Northwich 4ths 234-4 (Craig Douglas 129, Stuart Plant 52) Macclesfield 4ths 74 ao (Matt Lightburn 3-5, Josh Spruce 3-13).

Bowdon Vale 143-4 Barnton 140-5

BEN Wingfield scored 32 and Neil Langham 28 but the Barnton innings was sluggish. After Bowdon reached 68 without loss Langham and Paul Coot claimed two wickets apiece but bottom of the table Vale did not let victory slip.

CHESHIRE BUILDING SOCIETY CHESHIRE ALLIANCE

Wilmslow W 217-5 dec Hartford 220-3

JAMES Hodgkinson (89) and Jon Phillips (65) were the Hartford heroes. Gareth Stokes (21 no) and Martin Pickup (23 no) steered them across the line. Earlier, Rob Whittle took 2-59.