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Yet another wet weekend

10/ 9/2008

AFTER one of the wettest September weeks on record, waterlogging prevented any play in the crucial game between Alderley Edge and Bowdon at Moss Lane, leaving Mark Walker’s talented team undisputed champions of the ECB Cheshire County Premier League for the first time.

Beaten only twice in 21 games, Alderley go into the final round of fixtures next Saturday leading by 36 points and cannot be caught by Bowdon, who must finish runners-up.

The 2008 title-winners will be formally handed the Murray Smith Trophy and championship flag by League chairman David Humpage before the start of the club’s final game against Heaton Mersey.

Only one match was played in the premiership, with Macclesfield winning by 57 runs at bottom club Mersey. The result preserves Macc’s status, but sends Mersey back to Division One after one season in the top flight.

Winning the toss, Macclesfield were bowled out for 120 with Brenton McDonald taking 5-61 - taking his tally to 60 for the season - and Danny Cranmer 4-44.

The Mersey batsmen were even more uncomfortable and were all out for 63 when number 11 batsman Owen Atkinson-Jones retired hurt. Macclesfield’s Aussie Nick Allen claimed 4-6 and Barney Cutbill, whose never-failing enthusiastic captaincy has had much to do with his side’s survival, returned 3-27.

Urmston, whose game at Toft was one of the five called off, will accompany Heaton Mersey back into Division One in 2009.

All six fixtures in the First Division were rained off, while Winnington Park finally lost their league status after a seven-wicket home Second Division defeat by Bredbury St Mark’s.

Woeful Park were bowled out for 61, with Graham Barlow taking 4-17, and Bredbury knocked off the runs in 22 overs (Chris Wood 29 not out).

Now with a 19 points advantage, either Bredbury or Hale Barns will accompany Winnington into the Meller Braggins Cheshire League in 2009.

The odds are on Bredbury surviving as they host Stockport Georgians, while Hale Barns must go to Irby.