POYNTON won by three wickets at Brooklands on Saturday to move 25 points clear at the top of the Murray Smith Cheshire County League First Division. Brooklands declared at 192-7 and Poynton made it with five balls to spare, in-form Brian Kingham hit 61.
The game between Widnes (second) and Winnington Park (third) was ruined by rain after Park had posted 223-5, Tom Allan 90, David Leech 53. Widnes reached 100-2 off 32 overs, with Steve Titchard and Adam Landry both on 30 not out.
Heaton Mersey moved off the bottom with a seven-wicket win at Cheadle Hulme, whom they dismissed for 182 (Ewan McCray 91). Johnny Rashid had 50 and Nick Cantello 47 in Mersey's response - only their second success of the season.
Grappenhall go rock-bottom after suffering a nine-wicket thrashing at Warrington, who replied with 162-1 (Malcolm Agar 71 no, David Baxter 68) to Grappenhall's 161-8, Ian Jackson 54 not out, Lewis Nunn 4-57.
Toft beat Upton by six wickets at Booth's Park, a winning hit for six by Richard Hardstaff hoisting his 50, while brother Simon scored 59. Upton had earlier posted 155-9, Manoj Roy 5-57.
Alsager won the south Cheshire derby at Congleton by 12 runs to go level on points. Kiwi Tim Wilson hit 83 in Alsager's modest 148-9 but Congleton mustered only 136, Roan Kitton 59, Simon Woolley 5-34.
Birkenhead Park became hot favourites to join Christleton for promotion from Division Two with a 10-wicket at rivals Upton, who were sent back for 78, Chris Stenhouse 3-16, John Costain 3-2. Damon Livermore was not out with 57 in Park's reply which takes him to 797 runs and his club 43 points clear of third-placed Bollington, who were held to a draw at Cheadle.
Bollington dominated the game at Kingsway, running up 159, Andy Palazzo 67, Simon Hall 6-27, then having Cheadle in deep trouble at 119-9, Simon Sastry 53, Brett Patterson 4-39.
Christleton chalked up their 10th victory despite being dismissed for 111 by Mobberley, after being 70-2 at a rain stoppage. Pakistani leg-spinner Waqar Ahmed bowled well to return 5-27.
Mobberley were bowled out for 70, John Thompson 24 and Matt Parkinson taking 4-12.
Sale registered their third victory by eight wickets at fellow strugglers Marple. Garry Cash scored 46 and Mark McKenzie took 4-24 in the Marple innings of 152, to which Sale replied with 154-2, Khalid Mohammed 108 not out being the day's only League centurion.
Timperley and Tattenhall share bottom spot despite winning draws. Tattenhall collected 14 points to Bredbury's 12 after posting 191-9. But St Mark's got close at 187-8, rain reducing their innings by four crucial overs.
Timperley had much the better of their game against Stockport Georgians, declaring at 194-8 before Georgians replied with 120-6.
