Cheshire cause is helped by league

by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post
Jun 5 2009

IN a spirit of co-operation which has not always existed in the past, three games in the Chapel Press Cheshire County League will begin early tomorrow to enable Cheshire players to get away on long journeys to Cornwall for their opening Minor Counties fixture at Falmouth, starting the next morning.

Most of the Cheshire players will be involved in the Hyde v Oulton Park ECB Premier League fixture which begins 90 minutes early at 11am while Nantwich v Chester Boughton Hall and the Division One clash between Timperley and Bramhall both begin at noon.

Match of the day in the Premiership sees leaders Bowdon (139 points) host second placed Neston (128). Bowdon miss key all-rounder Gareth Cross, who is on Twenty20 duty with Lancashire.

Without paceman Chris Stenhouse, who has moved to Second Division neighbours Birkenhead Park, Oxton host Widnes in another key fixture.

A league appeals committee has reduced the season-long ban on Alderley Edge’s overseas star Sohail Rauf to four weeks. Rauf fell foul of league rules when he played in a Staffordshire Cup game without sanction, an appearance which cost his club a 35-point penalty.

Division One leaders by 30 points, Bramhall should keep their advantage when they visit lowly Timperley, with runners-up Irby at home to bottom of the table Warrington.

Top of Division Two Bollington visit Bredbury.

TOMORROW ECB Premier Division (12.30pm unless stated): Bowdon v Neston; Didsbury v Toft; Hyde v Oulton Park (11am.; Macclesfield v Alderley Edge; Nantwich v Chester Boughton Hall (noon); Oxton v Widnes. First Division (1pm unless stated): Cheadle v Upton; Grappenhall v Urmston; Heaton Mersey v Christleton; Irby v Warrington; Poynton v Cheadle Hulme; Timperley v Bramhall (noon). Second Division (1pm): Birkenhead Park v Middlewich; Bredbury St Mark’s v Bollington; Brooklands v Burnage; Oakmere v Marple; Sale v Stockport Georgians; Tattenhall v Mobberley.

SUNDAY Minor Counties championship (11am): Cornwall v Cheshire (at Falmouth, continues Monday and Tuesday); Cheshire Cup 3rd round (1.30pm): Neston v Oxton.