WITH First Division top dogs Poynton and Widnes both winning handsomely, the two promotion positions in the Murray Smith Accountants Cheshire County League are all but done and dusted.
Poynton posted 236-6 against Winnington Park (Derwin Thompson 63, David Watkins 57, Damien Stringer 51, Stuart Hayes 3-81) after which Park were bowled out for a below-par 115 (James Bunby 40, Colin Stuart 5-41, Simon Turner 4-34).
Widnes beat off Toft's late challenge with a seven wickets win at Beaconsfield Road after restricting their visitors to 180-7 (Manoj Roy 59, Bapa Mukherjee 4-52). Wicket-keeper Ian Spencer blazed an unbeaten 85 in Widnes' positive reply.
Both these teams have done consistently well this season and should hold their own in the top flight in 2004. Bottom side Heaton Mersey lost at home to Upton by three wickets after managing only 146-8 (Nick Cantello 38). Upton's fast-rising young star all-rounder Lee Dixon top-scored with 34 in the Wirral men's comfortable reply.
Both Warrington and Grappenhall won to keep alive their joint bids to avoid the drop. In a game reduced by rain to 80 overs, Congleton managed only 86-9 (Neil Thompson 6-46) and Warrington won by six wickets (James Hughes 27).
Grappenhall, meanwhile, chalked up their third win in a row by three wickets at Brooklands after being set to top 182-9 (Rob Edwards 48, Neil Titchard 5-79). Ian Jackson top-scored with 63, but the Broad Lane club's cause has not been helped by having two points deducted for slow over rates.
Declining Alsager were bowled out for 99 at Cheadle Hulme (Phil Balderston 5-13) and the Grove Park men won with six wickets in hand.
In Division Two, Birkenhead Park won by 117 runs at Marple, who are beginning to look doomed to losing their league status after being founder members in 1975.
For Park - now only one point behind leaders Christleton, who drew with Irby - John Costain scored 74 and then took 7-21, while Aussie Damon Livermore failed by two runs to register his third successive century. The consistent Sydney player now has 1,194 runs, the sixth highest tally in league history with three more innings to come.
The runs record is held by former Victoria batsman Sean Prescott with 1,478 for Widnes in 1994. Birkenhead scored 202-7 and dimissed Marple for 85 (Garry Cash 31).
With a side severely weakened by social calls, Christleton almost lost their second game of the season against a rapidly improved Irby, who doubled their recent average score with 204-7 (Dave Newman 46). It took Christleton's last pair to cling on for a draw at 142-9 (Tod Campbell 70, Chris Gibson 6-62).
Mobberley dropped alongside Marple into the relegation zone when they lost by six wickets at Stockport Georgians after being bowled out for 153 (Nafees Din 80, Karl Martin 4-43).
Sale did their survival prospects a power of good with an eight runs win against Tattenhall at Dane Road, dismissing their visitors for 108 after they had managed only a modest 116 (Cameron Mohammed 61, Mel Dobson 4-25).
Timperley also produced a timely home win over Bollington, after being set to top 174-6 (A. Palazzo 59). With Tom Twinney hitting a fine 85, Timperley made it with six wickets to spare.
Another side needing points, Bredbury collected 16 with their 12th draw against Cheadle. St Mark's declared at 209-8 (Chris Wood 94) after which Cheadle managed only 154-8 (Graham Barlow 4-34).
