A BIG weekend for Nantwich looms with the Whitehouse Lane club battling to clinch the Chapel Press Cheshire County League ECB Premiership on Saturday and the Cheshire Cup 24 hours later.

After flattening rivals Chester Boughton Hall by six wickets last weekd, the Dabbers can clinch the title tomorrow if they collect 25 points at Alderley Edge and Chester fail to do the same at home to Toft. Alternatively, the three-way title race could go into the last week, with Hyde in the picture.

On Sunday, Nantwich enjoy ground advantage against rivals Hyde in the final of the Cheshire Cup. Nantwich lost to Hyde in the final of the League’s RedInsureT20 a month ago en route to the Barbados Cockspur Final Day at Chelmsford on September 19 and will be tested all the way in this 45 overs clash.

Relegation will also be a major issue in the Premiership to-morrow with bottom club Oulton Park (at Urmston), Grappenhall (at Macclesfield) and Alderley Edge (at home to Nantwich) all in the mix. Nor are Neston yet in the clear and they will find it difficult to reap much reward at Hyde although key batsman Jack Smith may be back after injury.

First Division leaders Marple take a 19 points advantage to Irby, who need a big return to ease a perilous position.

Fixtures: Saturday. ECB Premier Division (12 noon): Alderley Edge v Nantwich; Chester v Toft; Hyde v Neston; Macclesfield v Grappenhall; Oxton v Didsbury (11.30 a.m.); Urmston v Oulton Park. First Division (12.30 p.m.): Bramhall v Bollington; Cheadle v Cheadle Hulme; Christleton v Heaton Mersey; Irby v Marple; Sale v Poynton; Widnes v Bowdon. Second Division (12.30 p.m.): Bredbury v Congleton; Brooklands v Timperley; Malpas v Mobberley; Stockport v Upton; Stockport Georgians v Warrington; Tattenhall v Middlewich. Sunday. Cheshire Cup final: Nantwich v Hyde (at Nantwich, 12.30pm)