Didsbury promotion in the balance

Jul 8 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

DIDSBURY, leaders of The Right Move Abroad Cheshire County League First Division and currently celebrating their 150th anniversary, will not be promoted to the premiership in 2009 unless they obtain Clubmark from the ECB by September 30.

The league rules are that without a Clubmark promotion is denied and Didsbury are one of three remaining clubs without the official ECB accreditation, which means they could win the title and fail to move up. Leaving one club to be promoted and relegated from the ECB Premier Division in September.

Didsbury were six-wicket winners at Birkenhead Park, restricting the hosts to 179-8 (Ian Platt 69 not out), then replying with 180-4, Paul Sperring 52 not out.

Oxton beat Bramhall by four wickets and banked 25 points at Townfield Lane and lie only 18 points behind Didsbury. Their key men were Tom Pearson 4-33 and Chandra Atram 4-37.

Third-placed Poynton are coming up fast with a good run, taking 13 points from their home draw with Christleton. The Chester club were again indebted to Sri Lankan all-rounder Iroshan de Silva for their share of the points with 52 runs and a 3-38 bowling stint.

Upton lost a thriller off the last ball at home to Timperley after being dismissed for 156 (Dennis Warburton 36). Timperley edged home off the final delivery with their last pair at the crease, Upton skipper Gary Dixon claiming 4-26.

Warrington just fell three runs short at home to bottom team Bollington chasing 226 (Steve Heydon 5-50). With an unbeaten 77 from Liam Heaphy and 66 to Chris Kirby they closed on 224-6.

In Division Two, Irby put two defeats behind them and won by seven wickets at bottom team Winnington Park to go 23 points clear.

Winnington scored 180-9, Keith Holsgrove 4-53, Dave Collyer 3-78 and Irby coasted home with 181-3, Ben Thomas 69no, Mike Newman 50no. Grappenhall scored 188-8, Ian Barnes 66, Titchard 43, then dismissed Hale Barns for 159, Steve Baxter 5-63, Adam Tetlow 3-33.