IT was a profitable weekend for Grappenhall as both their senior teams beat their Didsbury counterparts.

The firsts were on the road and skipper Adam Roylance asked the hosts to bat first upon winning the toss – a decision that was vindicated by his bowlers.

Sam Guest and Raki Rao picked up three wickets apiece, while Roylance himself claimed two as Didsbury were restricted to 189 all out.

It seemed a manageable run chase, but Grappers lost openers Roylance and Pete Barnes early to leave them struggling on 12-2.

However, Albert Pennington and Ben Bodha rebuilt with a partnership of 94 for the third wicket.

When Pennington departed for 41, he was replaced by his younger brother Arthur and he eventually got to 56 to see the visitors home in an unbroken partnership with Bodha, who finished unbeaten on 66 to secure a seven-wicket victory.

The seconds won a high-scoring game with their Didsbury counterparts at Broad Lane, with the visitors racking up a big score batting first.

Ross Arrowsmith took three wickets and Matt Titchard two, but Didsbury were able to close on 253-6.

However, Grappers scored freely in reply, with Iain Wright to the fore as he smashed 79 from just 65 deliveries.

Tim Sykes backed him up with a patient half-century as the hosts completed a six-wicket win.

Meanwhile, Appleton lost ground on their promotion rivals in Cheshire Cricket League Division Three after losing at Wirral.

Vice-captain Martin Cooper past the half-century mark, but nobody could support his 58 as the visitors limped to 153-9 from their 45 overs.

Wirral reached their target for the loss of just three wickets.

The seconds held on for a nail-biting draw against Oxton’s thirds at Lyons Lane.

Chasing 209 to win, Appleton slumped to 174-9 despite 91 from Liam Mannion, but the last-wicket pair of Mike Cumberland and Pete McShane saw them finish on 188-9.

The thirds and fourths both suffered heavy defeats, going down to second teams from Wilmslow Wayfarers and Winnington Park respectively.