GRAPPENHALL took a big step towards promotion from the Cheshire County League Division One by beating table toppers Didsbury on Saturday.

The five-wicket victory at Broad Lane allowed Adam Roylance’s men to close the gap on their opponents to just three points with three games remaining.

Perhaps more crucially, they now have a 32-point cushion over third-placed Oulton Park with 75 left to play for.

After Roylance won the toss and inviting Didsbury to bat first, Grappers made a superb start with the ball to make early inroads into the visitors’ batting line-up.

Sam Guest and Gaz Burns did the damage as Didsbury were reduced to 40-5 in just 10 overs before the middle order staged a comeback.

Sam Leech and Tom Warren led the recovery by scoring 48 and 47 respectively before their seventh-wicket partnership of 76 was broken when Warren fell to Arran McCabe.

However, their stand had pushed Didsbury up to respectability and got them up to 195 all out.

Burns finished with 4-39 and Guest chipped in with 4-47 but the batsmen started poorly as Jamie Bye and James McCoy both went early to reduce them to 11-2.

Roylance and Pete Barnes steadied the ship with a partnership of 72 before Roylance was bowled for 27.

Barnes top scored for Grappers with 61 before Ryan Ninan hit an unbeaten 51 from just 38 balls as the hosts sealed victory with an over to spare.

Their promotion push continues when they travel to Davenham on Saturday.

A concerted bowling effort helped Grappenhall seconds to an eight-wicket victory at Bowdon.

Bowling first, Matt Titchard and Ben Cagna were the pick of an attack that functioned perfectly to dismiss their hosts for just 94 as they both took three wickets, with Neil Titchard and Ben Clissold taking two each.

The batters had a simple task to knock off the runs, with Will Sharp top scoring with 41.

The thirds enjoyed similar success as Cheadle dismissed for just 99, with Richard Wiles and Will Metcalfe taking three wickets each.

In response, Dan Osborne smashed an unbeaten 61 to give Grappers a nine-wicket victory with 39 overs to spare.

The seconds host Davenham on Saturday while the thirds travel to Hyde on Sunday.