NORTHWICH rose to the occasion by beating Cheshire County Cricket League leaders Heaton Mersey by four wickets on Saturday.

However, their joy was stifled when the other results came in leaving them at the foot of the table.

Heaton Mersey closed on 191-6 as Alex Claridge-Ingham raked in 3-38. Northwich rose to the occasion with a reply of 193-7 with an over remaining, with Cherian Gladwin top-scoring with 71.

The Moss Farm side thus remain in bottom spot, although prospects look better.

Also in Division Three, Oakmere won at Winnington Park by 25 runs after totalling a modest 139, Alec Butcher 29, helped by James Hodkinson and Dave Purcell both contributing 27.

They then bowled Park out for 114 – Johnny Wales 34, Matt Holland and Nick Guest both took 3-13.

Despite Nick Mumford’s 6-62, Barrow lost by three wickets to Maritime, now second.

Ashley rattled up 336-5 at home to Hawk Green, Ahmed Mushtaq 116, but their visitors held out with 213-6.

Kingsley won by 42 runs at Tattenhall with a total of 180, Aris Yassin 58, before bowling out Tatters for 138, Tom Hyslop 69, John Logan 5-18.

Warrington drew at Upton after posting 210-8, Thaksin Davids 67.

In Division Two, Davenham won by 29 runs at home to North-East Cheshire after totalling 215 ,Jason van de Meulen 70.

North-East were then bowled out for 186 with Ben Gough, Mo Abid and Reece Johnson sharing the spoils.

Mobberley won by seven wickets at home to Christleton thanks to Tom Wells’ 5-36.

In Division One, Bowdon were held to a draw at Urmston but stay top by 17 points.

Oulton Park’s hopes of promotion took a further hit at Lindow, where they lost by six wickets. Andy Metcalf hit 83 in a Park tally of 221-7, but Lindow replied with 224-4.

Alvanley lost by nine wickets at Sale, who replied with 128-1 to their visitors’ 124.

More than 500 runs were scored at Romiley, where the home side ran up 260 and Timperley responded with 264-9 thanks to their last pair.

In remaining game, Stockport Georgians beat Congleton thanks largely to 7-51 from off-spinner Simon Normanton.

There were several turn-ups in the Premier Division, with Neston and Didsbury both losing their first games of the season.

They are now joined on top spot by Hyde, winners at Didsbury after their hosts were held to 160. Hyde responded with 161-4, Luke Young 68.

Grappenhall shocked Neston with a 93-run home victory after totalling 215 – Avan Shetty 66, Luke Jones 4-62 – before bowling out the Merseysiders for 122, Shetty 5-19.

The lowest total of the Premier season was run up by Toft, who were dismissed for 58 at home to Nantwich, Rohan Fernando top-scoring with 13 against Jason Foulkes 5-29 and Phil Stockton 5-20.

In other games, Alderley Edge won by five wickets at Brooklands and Oxton won by 117 runs at Widnes, where Luke Filer and Jack Corran both posted half-centuries.

RESULTS

ECB Premier League: Brooklands 194 (Alec Edwards 63) lost to Alderley Edge 195-5 (Charlie Barnard 4-60; Cheadle 246-9 (Will Holmes 66) beat Chester Bo. Hall 182 (Andy McFarlane 52, Will Holmes 5-41); Didsbury 160 (Rob Sennie 55, Luke Young 4-51) lost to Hyde 161-4 (Luke Young 68); Grappenhall 215 (Arav Shetty 66, Luke Young 4-62) beat Neston 122 (Shetty 5-19); Toft 58 (Phil Stockton 5-24, Jason Foulkes 5-19) lost to Nantwich 61-1; Widnes 120 lost to Oxton 237-9 (Luke Filer 57, Jack Corran 53).

Top 3 (all played 8): 1= Neston 160; Didsbury 160; Hyde 160.

Division One: Bramhall 125 lost to Macclesfield 285-9; Lindow 224-4 beat Oulton Park 221-7 (Andy Metcalf 83); Romiley 260 lost to Timperley 264-7; Sale 121-1 (Pat Ashling 53) beat Alvanley 124 (Dan Newton 4-53); Stockport Georgians 250-5 (Brian Staniforth 93)  beat Congleton 150 (Simon Normanton 7-51); Urmston 172-9 (Luke Staniforth 72) lost to Bowdon 268-3 dec. (Jack Tipton 93, Ross Zelem 72).

Top 3: 1. Bowdon 182; 2. Sale 165; 3. Timperley 159.

Division 2: Ashton on Mersey 154 (Joe Cooper 7-62 ) lost to Hale Barns 228 (Sam Smith 86); Bollington 241-6 lost to Haslington 248-8; Davenham 215 beat NE Cheshire 186; Mobberley 102-3 beat Christleton 100; Port Sunlight 211 lost to Marple 262-4 (Grant Hodnett 104no, Max Fitzgerald 60); Stockport 96-7 beat Cheadle Hulme 93 (Naveed Gondal 7-38).

Top 3: Marple 152; 2. Haslington 145; 3. Mobberley 143.

Division 3: Ashley 336-5 (Amid Mushtaq 115) drew with Hawk Green 213; Barrow 152 lost to Maritime 154-7; Heaton Mersey 191-6 lost to Northwich 193-7; Tattenhall 138 (Tom Hyslop 69, Jphn Logan 5-18) lost to Kingsley 180 (Haris Yasin 59, Mell Dobson 4-51); Upton 170-9 (John Howell 4-56) drew with Warrington 210-8 (Theakin Davids 67, Ian Sharrok 4-59); Winninghton Park 114 lost to Oakmere 139.

Top 3: 1. Heaton Mersey 155; 2. Maritime142; 3. Ashley 131.

Saturday’s fixtures, all noon start, inc:

ECB Premier Division: Alderley Edge v Toft; Chester Bo. Hall v Brooklands; Oxton v Grappenhall.

Division 1: Alvanley v Bramhall; Congleton v Lindow; Oulton Park v Sale.

Division 2: Cheadle Hulme v Davenham; Marple v Mobberley.

Division 3: Hawk Green v Barrow; Kingsley v Upton; Northwich v Tattenhall; Oakmere v Ashley; Warrington v Winnington Park.