WINSFORD tumbled to acrimonious defeat at Pott Shrigley on Saturday.

They batted first and were all out for 112 before the clouds burst.

Winsford wanted the covers on, but their hosts refused and argued the issue.

When play resumed - still in a drizzle and with water oozing up their boots - Winsford's players took the view that if they wanted to win that desperately, they would help them. They tossed the ball up and Shrigley won by nine wickets.

But there will be repercussions. A club spokesman said: 'Our lads were disgusted and one or two were fielding with chairs over their heads to stay dry and make a point.

'We want the Cheshire League to address the problem of rain-affected games.

'The real problem is there is not enough umpires to go round - but Shrigley have had five rain-affected games with no official umpires and managed to finish them all.'

The Seconds' game was a thriller at Knight's Grange. They were bowled out for 83 - and then skittled Sandbach for 82 to win by a run.

But both Firsts and Seconds were overshadowed by the exploits of the Under-15s, who won the Cheshire League Cup against Lindow at Knight's Grange.

Ben Kettle made an important 30 not out as Winsford, fielding largely the same team beaten in the same final last year, posted 86-5.

Their bowling had to be tight and was. Kettle completed a man-of-the-match performance by bowling four overs for 13 runs, Mike Clarke conceded only two runs, Neil Wright-Elliot took 1-9, captain Anthony Ollier 1-15 and James Condliffe 2-13 as Lindon were checked at 61-5.