A DAMP morning and the resulting difficult wicket led to a flat performance by Ellesmere Port in their Cheshire Alliance Division Two match against Heaton Mersey Village.
There was no repeat of last year’s drama, where Port player John Cheeseborough was knocked out at the crease by a stray golf ball from the driving range next door, as the visitors posted a below-par 118 all out.
Port captain Gareth Boys said: “I felt that 140 or 150 would have been a decent score. But only Nick Brimble hung around, remaining at the crease for 20 overs while those around him caught too many edges.”
Throughout the game both sides struggled for boundaries and had to contend once more with the dangerous hail storm of golf balls landing on the pitch.
“They knocked off the runs easily despite us getting a few early wickets,” said Boys.
“In the end we didn’t score enough, it was just a flat game. “As for the golf balls, we didn’t experience any drama this time and the relationship between the two teams was good on the day.
“But we have had to mention it to the league because it is not a safe place to have the ground and something needs to be done.”
In Division Three, Capenhurst lost out to Glazebury 2nds despite setting a solid total.
Cape put on 186ao (Guy Tilby 35, J Jacobs 29), benefiting from 37 extras, but could not defend it as a 51 from Wayne Hargreaves inspired the visitors to a three-wicket victory (A Walking 3-56, Jacobs 2-27).
