GRAPPENHALL were beaten by seven wickets at 2013 Cheshire County Premier League champions Chester Boughton Hall.

Struggling to settle on a damp wicket and against the accurate pace bowling of Lancashire's Jordan Clarke, Grappers were dismissed for 97 with only three batsmen reaching double figures.

Chester had little trouble knocking off the total, passing their target for the loss of three wickets. The firsts host high-flying Hyde on Saturday.

Grappenhall second team hosted Chester, batting first on a damp track they posted 196 for 6 in their 50 overs.

Youngsters Jamie Bye and Albert Pennington scored half centuries and veteran Will Sharp added a fluent 44.

Wickets fell regularly with Ian Barnes and Neil Muttock bowling with deadly accuracy to claim four apiece, bowling 19 and 20 overs respectively.

Chester’s number nine and 10 dug their heels in and with some changes in the bowling attack the final two wickets would not come, leaving the visitors with a moral victory at 140 for 8 and a winning draw for the seconds.

Warrington were off to a solid start with opener Tom Corroboy, 42, and Tushar Marhambra, 20, adding 61 for the second wicket in the second XI Division One against Sale.

Ian Sleigh, 28, shared in the only other partnership of 31 as a wet outfield allowed the home side to close their innings at 190 for 9.

Chia Gadipalli, 2 for 13, and Vicram Palanisamy, 2 for 24, supported by one each from Nick Houghton, 1 for 8, Dave Lee, 1 for 15, and Sy Hewitt, 1 for 24, saw Sale hold on for the loss of seven wickets.

Warrington’s third team were invited to bat on a slow, wet wicket with Alan Hitchmough, 47, and Dom Hastings, 20, having the only partnership of note, 51, with the innings closing at 149 for 6.

Upton slowly managed to target the Warrington score but young opening bowlers Tom Fagan-Hall, 3 for 33, and Tom Higham, 2 for 39, supported by Hitchmough, 2 for 27, held their nerve as the hosts fell one run short in a close draw.

Warrington fourth team drew with Upton on a very wet wicket.

Luke Newsholme, 1 for 27, took the only wicket as the visitors declared at 157 for 1.

After a start of 53 for the first wicket from Paul Higham, 23, and 13-year-old Harry Kellett, 44, the run rate faltered with Warrington posting 107 for 5 to draw.