WIDNES, the borough's highest-ranked cricket club and reigning Merseyside sports club of the year, can now celebrate being the third-best team in the Cheshire Pyramid.

They secured their highly-creditable position behind champions Oulton Park and runners-up Hyde in CD Bramall County League's ECB Premier Division.

Another Widnes-based outfit Moorfield likewise claimed a third-placed finish - in the Merseyside and Southport Alliance's Division Two and, with it, promotion to Division One.

Also on the rise are Frodsham, who step up from Cheshire Alliance's Division Two to Division One, where Kingsley came in fifth this time despite a rousing final-day victory.

Runcorn, meanwhile, ended up third from bottom in Meller Brag-gins Cheshire League's Division One and will be grateful for the early-season points, which ultimately saved them from the two-team drop zone.

Alvanley achieved a more-comfortable sixth spot in the same division.

Widnes completed their campaign on Saturday with an excellent victory at Alderley Edge.

They got home by two wickets, having won the toss.

In the absence of the prolific Bappa Mukherjee, other Widnes bowlers rose to the occasion.

Gareth Dyson took 2-41, including the wicket of freescoring Mark Currie, while Steve Titchard chipped in with 3-57, Tom Evans 2-32 and Sean Moore 3-14.

Alderley Edge were all out for

185. In reply, Widnes lost James McCoy for a duck in the first over.

However, Titchard (61) and Danny Naughton (24) built a solid foundation.

Moore (12) and Tony Hurdley (14no) supported skipper Ian Spencer, whose sparkling 58 steered the Beaconsfield Roaders home.

Moorfield, meanwhile, are still coming to terms with promotion but insist it will not change them.

Spokesman Karl Fitzgerald said: 'Next year will see the side take on good opposition, who pay overseas professionals thousands of pounds to score runs and take wickets.

'Many will argue these sides are buying success to the detriment of their own cricketing youth members.

'Moorfield's policy has - and will be - to continue to develop youth cricketers, who are capable of stepping up into competitive league cricket.

'This season is living proof this system is working.'

Moorfield scraped through against visitors Old Xaverians in a low-scoring final game.

On a damp and dodgy track, home skipper Ste Dean elected to bat.

Openers Mike Harrison (10) and Mark Brick (23) got going before a series of disasters struck.

As wickets tumbled, only number six Tom Lunt showed any resistance with 25.

At one point, the home side were 13-4 off 12 overs. No-one else reached double figures as the hosts were bowled out for just 76 (34 overs).

This was not what the home players had in mind while still pushing for Division One.

After tea, it looked even more ominous as the Old Xavs' openers reached 37-0 (15).

Three overs later, the score had not moved on but four wickets had fallen with Neil Maher taking three of them.

Ste Dean saw his chance to up his pace, bowling some pretty hostile stuff.

Miraculously, it worked - he finished with 7-28 to bowl out the visitors for 75, handing Moorfield 20 vital points and Old Xavs five.

Runcorn (127-8) went down at Hale Barns, who replied with 128-4, while Alvanley also signed off on a flat note.

Their 159no was outstripped by Weaverham with five wickets in hand.

At Kingsley, the home side were left reflecting on what might have been when beating second-placed, promotion-winning Chester County Officers by 28 runs.

Kingsley made 142-9 wickets (K Ollier 72). CCO were then bowled out for 114 (J Ollier 6-35).

Frodsham saw off Grange by 117 runs - scoring 179-8 (B Large 55 and C Sandbach 35) and then dismissing the visitors for 62 (Large 5-22).

Widnes 2nds narrowly lost at home to Alderley Edge. Former first-team captain Phil Catterall, in his last innings for the club, fell three short of a century in 217-7.

After losing early wickets, the away side secured a last-over victory with eight down.

Runcorn 2nds (193-6) triumphed by four wickets at home to Alder-ley Park (192-4).

Widnes U15s won the Liverpool Echo Cup at Wavertree on Sunday.

They set the Liverpudlians 179 for victory and skittled them for just 98.