PipeMaster North Staffs & South Cheshire League

BAD weather ruined Crewe's home match against Cheadle on Saturday, forcing the fixture into a rain-sodden draw.

Crewe were 37-1 when the rain came down and kept the players off the field for more than three hours.

When play finally resumed just before 6pm, Crewe took the score to 125-6 when the rain came down again.

Neil Hurst was bowled for 16, while Tony Waddington made 42 and To m Gower continued his fine form of late with an attractive 38 not out.

Crewe face a tough test at Longton on Saturday. Their hosts are set to include several Staffordshire county players alongside Australian pace bowler Mike Lewis.

Betley were also frustrated by the elements in their home game against Leek, who had made 149-2 before showers made further play impossible.

In Division One, Elworth's Sarfraz Hussain was twice frustrated by rain as both his side's weekend fixtures were hit by cloud bursts.

Even so, Elworth came within a whisker of victory at Burslem on Saturday. Hussain hit 60 as Elworth were dismissed for 134, but Burslem were left hanging on at 102-9 off just 30 overs as captain Jim Higgins led Elworth's victory-charge with 4-23.

He was given good support from Rob Beech and Paul Crompton who claimed two wickets apiece, but both sides collected seven points from the draw.

On Sunday, Hussain continued his fine form with the bat against Kidsgrove and was undefeated on 34 when the heavens opened.

Elworth were 85-2 when further play was deemed impossible. Dave Buckley was the other main run-scorer with 26.

The weather also put a dampener on Haslington s hopes of a profitable weekend. Pete Barnett top-scored with 64 in Saturday s draw at Stone. Haslington declared on 155-5 and Mike Saive, 4-20, and Kevin Dralington, 3-55, had the home side struggling at 114-8 when play finished.

On Sunday, Haslington's declaration came slightly earlier against Norton at 150-4 with Barnett s 33 being upstaged by a fine 75 not out by Eddie Gilhooly.

Yet the home bowlers were frustrated as heavy rain prevented Norton from playing.

Second team scores: Premier Division

Cheadle 222-7 dec (D Long 3-44), Crewe 152-5 (S Walton 58); Leek 185-5 dec, Betley 130ao (A Simcock 39). Division One: Elworth 160-6 dec. (B Bleas-dale 78, C Parr 28), Burslem 155-6 (P Davies 2-34, S Parry 2-29; Elworth 106-3 (B Bleasdale 52no, K Underwood re-37no), Kidsgrove dnb; Norton dnb, Haslington 75-7.