GRAPPENHALL clinched promotion back to the Cheshire County League’s top flight following a comfortable five-wicket win against Weaverham on Saturday.

And they could still return as Division One champions.

Leaders Didsbury are only three points better off with one match left.

They host Bollington this weekend, while Grappers visit Oxton.

The hosts’ bowlers laid a platform for victory at Broad Lane, where they knocked over their Northwich-based guests for 119 after asking them to bat.

Pete Barnes (61no) helped rebuild a reply that had started with opening pair Adam Roylance and James McCoy departing cheaply.

However with support from Albert Pennington (11), Iain Wright (18) and Arthur Pennington (11no), he steered his side to victory inside 31 overs.

Grappenhall, demoted from the Premier Division after winning only twice last season, will hope to make more of an impact next summer.

The club’s seconds were impressive victors, by eight wickets, at Brooklands.

Josh Hayes (4-21) and Matt Titchard (3-24) were the pick of the visitors’ attack as they bowled out the home team for 105.

They cruised to their target after tea, led by Will Sharp (49) before Ben Clissold (34no) finished the job.

Oxton’s seconds are their guests this weekend.

Grappenhall’s thirds edged a thriller at home to their relegation-threatened Sale counterparts on Sunday.

Hayes (65no) continued a fine weekend by contributing a half-century at the crease, supported by James Jenkinson (55) and skipper David Seed (49) in his side’s 190-7.

The visitors looked unlikely to threaten with six wickets down, only for a partnership between opener Joe Cannon (97no) and Dan Newton (34) to change that view.

However Grappers’ Will Metcalfe (3-30) and Richard Wiles (3-26) made sure their chase ended six runs short.

They head to Hyde next.

Earlier the same day, Grappenhall’s under 15s retained a North Cheshire Cup trophy they had won in 2015.

Luke Boardman (70no) and Arthur Pennington (51no) both contributed half-centuries as they posted a huge 180-1 during their allotted 20 overs against Davenham.

Their opponents toiled in reply, falling well short of a victory thanks in part to Nathan Waite’s four-wicket haul.