Champions Oulton Park set sights on Trophy

Jul 12 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

NOW 55 points behind ECB Premier Division leaders Alderley Edge in the Right Move Abroad Cheshire County League, reigning champions Oulton Park’s principal hope of honours this season appears to lie in the Fred Graham Twenty20 Trophy and the Cheshire Cup.

Bowdon stand in their way in the Cheshire Cup tomorrow and if Nathan Dumelow’s team are to achieve their objective of a record fourth successive triumph, they will have to overcome Steven Bramhall’s formidable side at Little Budworth where no fewer than 10 Minor Counties players will be on view. Oulton’s Twenty20 quarter-final opponents, meanwhile, will be Chester Boughton Hall at Filkins Lane next Thursday.

Back in the league, the formidable Alderley Edge, with eight wins, a tie and a draw in 11 completed games, host Nantwich, who have lost their Australian star batsman Glen Batticciotto. He has returned home to take up a first-class appointment with Queensland with a record of 637 league runs at an average of 79.37 from 11 innings.

Bowdon host Chester Boughton Hall for whom veteran bowler Alex Kegg has been in magnificent form and who could relish the seamer-friendly South Downs Road pitch.

Widnes go to struggling Urmston in the expectation of a good result while Neston, with nine games since their last win on May 3, face Oulton Park at Parkgaate.

TODAY ECB Premier Division (1pm): Alderley Edge v Nantwich; Bowdon v Chester Boughton Hall; Heaton Mersey v Toft; Hyde v Macclesfield; Neston v Oulton Park; Urmston v Widnes. Division One (1.30 pm): Bollington v Poynton; Bramhall v Upton; Cheadle v Warrington; Christleton v Oxton; Didsbury v Cheadle Hulme; Timperley v Birkenhead Park.

Division Two (1.30 pm): Burnage v Bredbury; Grappenhall v Winnington Park; Irby v Stockport Georgians; Marple v Mobberley; Middlewich v Hale Barns; Sale v Tattenhall.

TOMORROW President’s Trophy quarter-final (at Tattenhall, 1.30pm): Cheshire County League v North Yorkshire & South Durham League. Fred Graham Twenty20 Plate quarter-final (1.30pm): Cheadle v Macclesfield.

Cheshire Cup 5th round (1.30 pm): Oulton Park v Bowdon; Elworth v Wallasey.

Cheshire Shield 2nd round (1.30 pm): Middlewich v Congleton; Rode Park v Romiley; Malpas v Oxton; Hale Barns v Compstall; Upton v Ashton-on-Mersey,.