GRAPPENHALL came away with a losing draw at home to Macclesfield in the Cheshire County League Premier Division on Saturday.

Invited to bat first on a good wicket, Macclesfield got off to a flyer against some indisciplined bowling and raced to 54 in nine overs before the first wicket fell. They lost their second wicket at 58.

The visitors continued to pile on the runs with their overseas Aussie going on to make 134, though he was missed a couple of times much earlier in his innings.

Eventually they reached 299 for 8 and set Grappenhall a daunting total to chase. Of the bowlers Gaz Burns took 3 for 75, Alex Mathews 2 for 54, and young Aaron McCabe was by far the most economical bowler with 2 for 14 off six overs.

Needing nearly 5.5 runs an over in pursuit, Grappenhall were in deep trouble at 32 for 4, with only skipper Adam Roylance standing firm.

He was then joined by Will Sharp and the pair defied everything Macc threw at them for the next 35 overs, before Sharp was out for a hard-grafted 36 at 110 for 5.

Ian Barnes came in and the final nine overs produced a further 52 runs, with Barnes making an attractive and breezy 27 not out, while Roylance carried his bat for an excellent knock of 64 not out. 162 for 5 the final score.

Grappenhall face Hyde on Saturday.

A depleted second team claimed a winning draw at Oxton, with the hosts clinging on when nine wickets down.

Grappers posted a below par 154 for 8 in their 50 overs, with 15-year-old James Jenkinson top scoring on 40 and ably supported by fellow 15-years-olds Josh Hayes, 31, and Ben Bravington, 21.

Oxton struggled all the way through with Ben Cagna's four wickets and Sam Baxter's three helped reduce the home side to 133 for 9.

Grappenhal thirds beat at home Marple by six wickets.

Marple posted 178 for 6 in their 45 overs. The pick of the bowlers was Matt Titchard with 3 for 19 off 12 overs.

Grappers got off to a good start at 50 for 1 off 10 overs with Paul Tyerman and Josh Hayes scoring freely.

When Tyerman went for 16 Tony Wright came to the crease. He and Hayes found it hard going with some tight bowling, but Wright started to take on the bowling with some success.

Hayes then went for a well crafted 40 to show his real potential. This brought Titchard to the crease who along with Wright took the fight to the bowlers and pushed Grappers towards victory.

Wright was finally dismissed for a match-winning 68 with only a few runs to go. The win was duly secured as Titchard finished 38 not out to get Grappers a much-needed 25 points.