GRAPPENHALL’S Cheshire County Cricket Premier Division campaign closed with a loss at Neston, but season highlights included some outstanding individual performances.

Grappers finished sixth in Cheshire’s top flight and will hope to welcome back overseas player Josh McClelland next season.

The Aussie produced the best all-round performance from a Grappenhall player for some time with 700 runs and more than 40 wickets.

Opener Adam Roylance also enjoyed a successful season, finishing with almost 800 league runs.

On the day, McClelland took two wickets as the Grappers attack pinned Neston at 90 for 3 off 30 overs, but the arrival of David Hurst, 110, saw the hosts post a commanding 230 for 5.

Gaz Burns, Jack Critchley and Luke Williams all took a wicket.

Neston held faint championship hopes and set about the Grappenhall order knowing only a win would suffice.

Despite a strong season, Roylance, 9, fell alongside fellow opener Liam Parkinson, 0, as only McClelland, 24, and Burns, 20, made it into double figures.

Seven Grappenhall players failed to trouble the scorers as they were bowled out for 58 with 30 overs to spare, but Neston’s victory proved too little as Chester Boughton Hall beat Oxton to secure the title.

Grappenhall’s seconds were forced to watch Neston bat out a draw during their title-decider.

Grappers posted 226 for 2 in 48 overs with Andy Tetlow scoring an excellent 104 not out and Will Sharp an elegant 70.

Neston the proceeded to crawl to 84 for 4 off 52 overs to finish ahead of Grappers by four points and take the trophy home.