SPECULATION that Chester Boughton Hall's Premier Division crash against Hyde on Saturday may have had something to do with a clubmate's wedding festivities the previous night lasted just 24 hours.

For Hall proved they could mix business with pleasure by clinching a Cheshire Cup victory on Sunday, despite merry-making at the club ball on Saturday night!

The performance against Hyde was disastrous. Only Jeff Yates (18) and Warren Goodwin (12) reached double figures in an all-out total of 66 from 25 overs and, in reply, Hyde knocked off the runs for the loss of only three wickets.

Skipper Alex Kegg demanded a practice session after the game and Hall responded magnificently against Timperley in the county knockout competition.

Kegg put Timperley in and had them back in the pavilion for 64 in 32 overs, with Goodwin taking four wickets and David Atkins chipping in with three.

It didn't take long for Hall to reach their target for the loss of only Andy Bennion's wicket, Goodwin scoring an unbeaten 28 and Steve Ogilby, who has been called up again by Ireland to play Holland in Amsterdam next week, was 27no.

Chester seconds scored a spectacular victory at Hyde, who set a daunting target with a total of 259 to leave the visitors 47 overs to win.

A rampaging 83 from Jonty Hedgecoe, well supported by the more classical Tim Bonser, kept the supporters on tenterhooks. When they both went in quick succession, sensible batting by Sam Chapman and Dan Riley put on 81 while Brett Balac increased the momentum.

It went down to the last ball and with Chester needing a six, Brett Balac hooked the ball on to the players' balcony, taking his own score to 34no.

The domestic squabble between Chester Thirds and Fourths ended with an easy victory for the Thirds, who hit 211-7 (Jamie Brown 89no, Rick Hawkley 33no) before bowling the Fourths out for 121, Simon Lodge taking 4-33 including a three-wicket maiden.

Macclesfield's test of Oulton Park's championship credentials lasted barely an hour as their top order was blown away by the blistering pace attack of Danny Jones (4-31) and Jason Whittaker (2-23).

And at 25-5 they were only saved from a collapse by a brave 49 from Australian Sam McTaggert. Macclesfield managed to struggle to 98.

Park made short work of their chase as openers Liam Buchanan and Danny Leech both hit 28 before Whittaker (18no) and Mark Bentham (10no) saw the visitors home by eight wickets.

Park slipped up in the Cheshire Cup on Sunday. Chasing Hyde's 232-7, they reached 199 in reply with Whittaker top-scoring on 41.

Park seconds extended their lead at the top of the table with a draw against Middlewich.

Christleton were unable to continue their recent form, which had propelled them up to second in the Division One table, as they crashed to a resounding defeat at Warrington.

Having been put in on a green wicket, Warrington managed to get off to a decent start. But even at 77-1, half of the innings had already passed thanks to the economical bowling of Alex Barr and Guy Newell.

Wickets continued to tumble to this pair, but the runs kept ticking over and Warrington took the full 55 overs to post a total of 175. Newell's marathon 23 over spell yielded a well-deserved four wickets, while Barr and Simon Ratcliffe picked up two each.

Christleton got off to a disastrous start in their reply, being reduced to 14-4 and then losing three more quick wickets to be 39-7. Good bowling, poor shots and a little bit of bad luck all contributed to the dismissals.

Fortunately for the visitors, Nick O'Connell and Jason Ashcroft provided stubborn resistance, O'Connell swiftly moving to 40 before being well caught in the deep.

Ashcroft and Greg Malkin were the last pair at the wicket, and they fought doggedly to hang on for the draw. But after 14 overs, the resistance was ended on 105 and Warrington finished worthy winners.

After a good performance in the field, it was Christleton's batting that let them down, and they will hope to recover their form for tomorrow's home game against Urmston and the Village KO trip to Stainsby Hall, Derby, on Sunday.

The seconds posted 192-7 (Mike Hollindale 82, Richard Morgan-Jones 44, Andy Sissons 28) before Weaverham were bowled out for 120, Ben Turner, James Dathan and Brian Wareing taking three wickets each.

Tattenhall were well beaten in their fixture at promotion contenders Cheadle in Division Two.

On a wet, poorly prepared pitch on an over-cast day, the visitors won the toss and elected to bowl. The veteran Cox (2-32) took early wickets and with strike bowler Chris Fowell (2-46) troubling the batsmen with his pace and bounce at the other end, the home side struggled to 114 at the 45-overs stage.

However, the Australian Manser, supported by the burly Roberts, both hit late big shots to enable their team to reach 163-9 off 53 overs. This was a much-improved bowling and fielding performance form Tattenhall after the previous week's lapses.

With a weakened batting line-up and on an average track, the target was always going to be a challenge, with a big score needed from one of the top four batsmen if it was to be achieved.

But the innings got off to a poor start with both the openers being removed for 16 in the eighth over. Wickets fell at regular intervals and the visitors were all out for 60, Manser taking 5-35, making it a total of 41 for the season at the halfway stage.

Tattenhall did play their part in the collapse with some poor shots against some innocuous bowling at the other end. But the one high spot was the batting performance of Rob Okell, his first for the firsts this year, looking assured and confident at the crease. He also took two excellent catches.