GRAPPENHALL became the latest team to fall to reigning ECB Premier League champions and current leaders Alderley Edge on Saturday.

Only Pete Barnes (51) showed anything like good form with the bat for the hosts, who were dismissed cheaply for 111 after having got off to a good start with 50 for the first wicket.

Grappers, only three points clear of the relegation zone ahead of Saturday’s visit to second-placed Bhester Boughton Hall, could boast only three other batsmen to reach double figures.

In response the Broad Lane outfit got a couple of early wickets but Grappers old boy Calum Rowe (70no) scored freely as Alderley Edge coasted home with three wickets down and plenty of overs to spare.

It was a bad day at the office for the seconds, too, as they lost by six wickets at Davenham.

Grappers scored a below par 174 all out inside 44 overs, giving Davenham an extra six overs to knock off the runs.

Dave Tully scored a fine 40 but the hosts Davenham clawed in the total inside 48 overs with only six wickets down as the Grappers bowling attack struggled to make the inroads it needed.

Matt Titchard picked up three wickets in the defeat.

Fortunately for Grappers, promotion rivals Warrington and Oulton Park also lost making the defeat not as damaging as it otherwise could have been.

Grappenhall’s thirds won at Bramhall by 14 runs.

After accruing 50 runs off the first 10 overs a mini collapse left Grappenhall at 100-4, with Ben Bravington and Jamie Bye both recording 30s.

The score picked up with some hefty blows from the middle order before the tail of Nathan Waite and Neil Titchard wagged to take Grappers to 215-8 off their 45 overs.

In response, wickets were hard to come by on a largely dead track and Bramhall were always in the game.

Grappers’ best chance was to keep the relegation threatened Bramhall in with a shout so that they kept on goinguntil the end.

With 20 overs left Bramhall needed 120 with only three wickets down.

At that point the pressure told as they lost regular wickets to the steady bowling of skipper David Seed and Stanley Pennington, who secured three wickets apiece.

Bramhall stuck at it and needed 14 off the last two overs but with nine wickets down.

James Jenkinson knocked over number 11’s middle stump the very next ball to claim the win.

With another maximum points haul Grappers keep their place in the top three and maintain the pressure on those above them.