GRAPPENHALL never got going with the bat as they slipped to a crushing, 127-run defeat to Toft on Saturday.

Skipper Adam Roylance won the toss at Broad Lane and, after asking the visitors to bat first, his side made a good start to reduce Toft to 39-3.

Those three early wickets included Warrington-born Lancashire batsman Rob Jones, who was dismissed for just two by Grappers paceman Sam Guest.

However, Toft's middle order recovered as Grappers failed to build on their promising opening.

Their stand-out performer with the ball was Australian Owen Lynch, who took 5-28 with his off-spin to peg Toft back to a score of 231.

Gaz Burns took 2-49, with Guest and Arran McCabe scooping a wicket each, but Toft had posted an impressive score.

With the bat, Grappers' reply struggled from the outset and never really recovered from the loss of Roylance and Pete Barnes in quick succession.

Nobody got higher than Jamie Bye and Adam Green's score of 20 and they were dismissed for a paltry 104 with 21 overs of the game remaining.

On the other hand, the seconds continued their excellent form with an eight-wicket win at Oxton.

Arthur Pennington's excellent return of 3-31 helped to dismiss the hosts for 198, which laid the platform for a match-winning knock from veteran Will Sharp.

When he was eventually dismissed for 113, fellow veteran Iain Wright saw Grappers home with an unbeaten 55.

The thirds also cruised to an eight-wicket victory, this time at the expense of Didsbury's fourths.

Grappers restricted their hosts to 121-9 from their 45 overs, with Richard Wiles, Ben Bravington and James Jenkinson all taking two wickets.

The batsmen made light work of their target, with Steve Rooney starring with a quickfire knock of 60.

The firsts have a double header this weekend, travelling to Hyde in the league on Saturday before hosting Oulton Park in the Cheshire County Cup on Sunday.

The seconds host Brooklands on Saturday, with the thirds taking on Marple on Sunday.