GRAPPENHALL’S 100 per cent start to the season ended with a 65-run defeat away at Bollington on Saturday.

After putting the visitors into bat and striking with the game’s first ball when Sam Guest removed home opener Harry Dickinson, Grappers looked to be taking a grip of the game.

The hosts were reduced to 30-3, but the middle-order staged a fightback and they eventually reached 209-9 from their 50 overs.

Guest finished with figures of 4-41 and Ryan Ninan chipped in with 3-53.

Skipper Adam Roylance dug in and made 40, with support coming by way of 35 from Ninan and 21 from Will Sharp, but three Grappers batsmen fell without scoring as they came up short.

Their seconds fared much better, winning for the first time season with a one-wicket victory over Stockport, who reached 218-9 from their 50 overs.

After a slow start in reply, Jamie Bye and skipper Jack Critchley injected momentum with 60 and 41 respectively.

Wickets fell regularly, but the last-wicket pairing of Ben Cagna and James Jenkinson knocked off the winning runs with one ball to spare.

Grappers’ third team were hammered by Alderley Edge after a depleted side was dismissed for just 134, with captain Mike Holden’s 40 the only meaningful contribution.

The Grappenhall’s bowlers failed to trouble Edge’s batting line-up, with Harry Elms and Paul Heaton leading them to a 10-wicket win with 88 and 44 respectively.

The first team face Christleton tonight, Thursday, before weekend home games with Tattenhall and Cheadle, while the seconds travel to Bramhall and the thirds host Sale.

APPLETON had their bowlers to thank in a seven-wicket win over Over Peover, with Jack Talbot taking 6-38 as they dismissed their visitors for just 116 at Lyons Lane.

They reached their target with plenty of time to spare despite being reduced to 27-3, with skipper Tom Lomas leading the way with an unbeaten 66.

They travel to face Stretton in their next fixture on Saturday.

WARRINGTON secured a tight five-run win over Didsbury on Saturday, when Malcolm Agar top-scored with 40 as they reached 186-6 batting first.

He had valuable support from James Rudd and Will Fleetwood, who both scored 32.

With the visitors on 111-4, Warrington seemed in control but Didsbury kept in touch until overseas player Huw Stone, who finished with figures of 3-53, took the final wicket with just three balls to spare.

The seconds fell to a 55-run defeat at Bowdon as the hosts made the most of a good wicket to post 212-8, with Brad Roden and Ryan Swart taking four wickets each for Warrington.

Opener Joel Chaderton hit 30 in Warrington’s reply, but no-one stayed with him for long enough as they fell short despite Aaron Soni’s unbeaten 43.

The first team face Macclesfield on Thursday before travelling to Marple on Saturday, while the seconds host Nantwich on Saturday afternoon.