CHESTER County Officers were rewarded for hours of pre-match mopping up with a comprehensive victory over Woodford at Upton.

But skipper Steve Johnson lost the toss again and the home side had to bat first. This time, however, the openers did their job and constructed a magnificent partnership of 118 before young Mike Rowlands fell for a painstaking 23.

An angry black cloud then interrupted play for half an hour and, on the resumption of play, Chester had to make maximum use of the remaining 12 overs.

Tony Hattersley holed out immediately for a classic 88, but Tony Collard (16), Ian Barlow (12) and Johnson (12) raised the score to 170-8 by tea time.

Woodford struggled from the start, especially against Andy Barlow's prodigious swing. With Johnson also pinning them back, Woodford never looked like making an effective challenge.

Wickets fell at regular intervals with Andy Barlow taking 3-27 in 13 overs. But some effective batting in the middle order put up some resistance and it took the introduction of John Coppock's slow spinners to winkle out the remainder.

Chances proliferated but the bitterly cold wind conspired to chill the hands and six chances went begging with even the keeper's gloves unable to grasp their opportunities.

Fortunately, the bowlers were able to hit the stumps, backed up by a phenomenal run-out by Johnson, and victory was achieved by 77 runs with three overs to spare.

Coppock snapped up 4-13 at the death and Johnson and Alan Roberts took one apiece.

With this second win of the season, Chester County Officers took a place in the top two in the league. Tomorrow, they have a tough trip to Chelford while on Sunday there is a cup tie at Mossley.

The second-team match at Woodford was cancelled. nKingsley got their first win of the season, thanks to a solid team performance at picturesque Bunbury. All of the six bowlers used took a wicket, but aging seamer Alderman (2-7 from 10 overs), Burden (3-36) and Jonny Ollier (2-22) were most successful as they bowled out the home side for 101 in chilly conditions.

In reply, opener John Elliott batted throughout the innings for an unbeaten and resolute 37, while Kieron Ollier played the perfect foil with a swashbuckling 32.

The win by seven wickets took Kingsley out of the relegation zone at the right time as they prepare to host local rivals Northwich tomorrow.

A solid all-round team performance earned Frodsham a draw at home to Appleton, a result which keeps them in pole position in Division Two after three games.

For the third time in succession, Frodsham lost the toss and were asked to bat first against a strong Appleton side who only narrowly missed out on promotion last season.

In damp, blustery conditions, Nick Corless rolled back the years, blasting a magnificent 61 to set up the Frodsham innings after the loss of an early wicket.

Assisted by Geoff Abram and Ben Large, the score reached 105 before Corless departed the scene. Matt Williamson (35) and Jon Lewis (33) combined to shape the second half of the home side's innings, upping the tempo in the last 12 overs to take Frodsham to 183-7 and maximum batting points.

After tea, Appleton made a solid start in reply through openers D Hurst and A Hurst, who dealt with the initial probings of Large and Burton, despite a couple of close calls.

They scored at a good rate and briefly allowed the away side to consider the chance of a victory. The introduction of Matt Williamson into the attack reaped immediate rewards as A Hurst pulled a short ball into the hands of Ged Swan at square leg.

At the other end he was joined by the quick left-armer Dickie Collin (2-22), whose tight spell of 10 overs largely took away Appleton's hopes of a win. Collin removed the other opener D Hurst (23), caught off a skied shot to deep fine leg by Williamson.

Frodsham then turned to Swan and Ian Hart for new inspiration, then later reverted again to the pace of Williamson (4-47) and Collin. But Appleton batted solidly enough to hold out for a well-earned draw with 153-7 at the close.

Frodsham seconds went down at Appleton by six wickets in their first completed game of the new season. Batting first, they struggled to 115-8 at the close, despite a fine innings of 45no by Steve Hunt.

In reply, Appleton surpassed the Frodsham total for the loss of just four wickets. nSaughall opened their league account with a draw against Moss-ley.

After a rare win of the toss, captain James Huxley inserted Mossley on a wicket which suggested movement and saw his bowlers exercise dominance from ball one.

The new ball attack of Pete Tunnicliffe and James Huxley bowled miserly spells, the latter going for just six runs off nine overs, and were unfortunate not to find the edge of the visiting team's opening batsmen.

Youngster Mike Andrews took eight wickets in a previous bowling spell at Eastham but had to settle for just one in this game as Saughall made their first breakthrough in the 23rd over with only 31 runs on the board. And wily leg-spinner Allan Wilks was called in to the attack to pick up the other opener in only his second over.

By keeping the visitors down to 36- 2 with half the overs completed, Saughall were in complete control, but some more expansive strokes from Harrison (36) and skipper Mellor (28) helped Mossley to a total of 128-7 off 48 overs. Wilks picked up 3-42 while fellow spinner Andrews took 2-32, including a breathtaking catch on the stretch off his own bowling.

Opening batsman Martin Huxley missed most of last season through illness. But his first visit to the middle in a year didn't last long, as he was bowled via his pad for two.

Youngster Andy Thomas had a hugely successful campaign with the bat in 2004 but was the second of five top-order batsmen to be bowled as Saughall slumped to 41-6, rustiness very much in evidence.

James Huxley briefly threatened, new bat in hand, but when he was yorked for 17, Saughall were staring down the barrel at an embarrassing defeat.

As the storm clouds gathered, experience came to the fore with Ian Jenkins (12no) and Brian Huxley (8no) batting out the final overs as Saughall held out for the draw at 69-7.