CHESTER County Officers have been promoted as champions of Meller Braggins League Division Two – and Kingsley will be looking to follow them up this weekend.

The Officers secured the title – their second in a row – by taking 16 points from a drawn game at home to Aston on Saturday.

Club chairman Tony Collard said: “We are delighted to achieve successive championships. This is a brilliant young team who have dug deep to pull through in several tricky matches, losing only two games. Hopefully the winning habit will continue in Meller Braggins Division One!”

After making a grim start against Aston and dipping to 50-6, Ian Rule (90) stood firm and helped carry the score to 198-8.

After tea, the Aston innings was built round opener Chris Beesley’s stylish 60.

Mike Rowlands took 6-26 as the visitors finished on Aston 174-8.

KINGSLEY are four points clear in second place going into this Saturday’s final game of the season against Woodford.

They played out a thrilling draw against Barnton at the Croft last weekend, making 182-6 (Ben Stoddart 53, Neil Rowlands 50).

Barton were left needing four off the final ball of the match to win – but they were restricted to two and finished with 181-5.

Elsewhere, CHOLMONDELEY lost at Woodford and BUNBURY drew at Mere.

In Division One, OAKMERE need to take only seven points from their game against Mobberley on Saturday to guarantee their safety. They secured 10 points from a draw at Weaverham at the weekend.

In Division Three, BARROW claimed a home win over CH Ladybridge.