Toft beat champions

Unbeaten in cup or league after mid-June last season, Bowdon's weakened bowling attack (no Gary Yates or Danny Woods) was mauled by former Oxford University batsman Andy Bones, back with the club after a spell in London.

He slammed 61, Richard Emslie a vital 38 and Adam Carolan 34 s Toft coasted home by five wickets at 187-5. Bowdon had declared at 186-5, Nick Murrils run out 49, Stephen Ball 30 and Nigel Muirhead3-43 off 23 accurate overs.

Last season's runners-up Oulton Park did better with a 117 runs home win over last First Division champions Christleton. Paul Berry contributed 73, and Danny Leech 56 to Park's massive 273-7 declared after which Christleton were bowled out for 156 after recovering partially from 111-8, Chris Baker 33.

For Park, Nathan Dumelow took 5-59 along with another former Derbyshire player on debut, Steve Selwood.

The season's first century came from Hyde's Bradford & Leeds UCCE batsman Jimmy Duffy with 124 out of 227-8 declared after being put in at Alderley Edge.

The home side replied with a spirited 08-7, Mark Walker 72, Alan Day 51, Danny Berry 4-35 off 14 overs.

The Wirral derby clash between Oxton and Neston resulted in a level-scores draw, the Parkgate men shading the points 18-11.

Oxton skipper Neil cross was the star of the show, top-scoring with 81 in his sides modest 145 against tight bowling from Lancashire's Simon Marshall, 4-42 and the evergreen Stan Clifford, 4-57 who delivered 42 overs out of 53 between them.

Neston wickets tumbled after tea before a match-saving knock from tail-ender Chris Finegan gave them hope of victory.

When he was dismissed for 52, Oxton held Neston to 145-9 as time was called, thanks to the steadiness of former Bowdon and Cheshire paceman Andy Birley, 3-31 and Cross, 3-32.

Unable to make his debut in this game was Neston's useful acquisition Brad Donelan, the former Sussex, Somerset and Cambridgeshire all rounder. Donelan was recently appointed cricket coach at Birkenhead School.

Chester Boughton Hall beat Nantwich by 24 runs at Filkins Lane after scoring a modest 155, Jack Yates 2, Chris Hampshire 5-44. The Dabbers mustered only 131, Ray Doyle 47, veteran skipper Alex Kegg taking 5-26. Nantwich fielded former Oulton Park spinner Andy Wilgose.

Returning Barbados batsman Derwin Thompson cracked an unbeaten 94 and Brian Kingham 64 in a third wicket stand of 130 as Poynton rattled up 213-6 at Widnes, who responded with 159-7, Tony Hurdley 72, Steve Titchard 50.

Four first division winners

Reigning Second Division champions Cheadle got off to a good start in Division One with a convincing win against Cheadle Hulme, their record-breaking Aussie bowler Peter Manser quickly producing last season's form with 5-52 to help bowl Hulme out for 124.

Cheadle had totalled 171, former Didsbury opener Paul Slattery top-scoring with 60, while Ewan McCray took 6-50. Urmston look set for an improved season after their 98 runs win at relegated Didsbury, whom they dismissed for 83 (Trevor Gane 37, Rob Tootell 6-21),

Newly-arrived ex-captain of Sheffield in the ECB Yorkshire League. Chris Watson scored 74 and Trinidadian Deepak Kumar 55 in Urmston's 181 - 5 declared, Dan Pugsley 4-37.

Alsager reminded promoted Heaton Mersey of the quality of First Division cricket with a five wickets win at Oakley Villas, where major pavilion construction work is in progress.

Matt Norbury top-scored with 44 in "Mersey's 164-9 declared and Alsager knocked them off with eight overs to spare, Paul Pickford 55.

Bramhall beat Upton by 96 runs on a partly-waterlogged Church Lane ground, James Day hitting 64 not out in their 208-7. Upton never recovered from 58-7, closing at 112 (Gary Dixon 34) Nick Barlow being unplayable with 6-20.

After changing his mind about moving to Bowdon, James Lewis hit a magnificent 128 out for Winnington Park in a thrilling high-scoring draw at Birkenhead Park. Winnington responded with 182-9 (Chris Stenhouse) to Birkenhead's 189-5 , of which Martin Smith scored 60 and Ian Platt 57 not out.

Ian Tate's 6-33 almost earned Macclesfield victory at home to Warrington, who held out for a draw at 127-8. A Bray 62 not out. Chris Buckley's 56 helped Macc declare at 185-6, Paul Agar 5-50.

Best performances: James Lewis (Winnington Park) 128 no v Birkenhead Park; Nick Barlow (Bramhall) 6-2- v Upton.

New clubs both draw

IN Division Two both newly-arrived clubs from the Meller Braggins League registered draws, Sale turning in the better performance. They ran up 201 (Peter Allum 83, Richard Hudd 6-26) before restricting Grappenhall to 174-8, Richard Green 70, R Jamil 4-37.

Burnage avoided defeat at Brooklands thanks to their last pair holding out at 150-9 after the Georges Road club had declared at 199-4.

Fifteen year-old D. Halkon scored 66 not out and David Madden 53 for Brooklands.

Timperley won by six wickets at Bollington, whom they bowled out for 120, Gary Wood 37, Mark Maddocks and Nick Liddell both 3-15. Martyn Ward's 36 steered Timperley comfortably home.

Congleton won a splendid game off the third ball of the 100 over against Irby, who scored 194-9 batting first, Mike Newman 94,Andy Farr 5-47, Adrian Dale's 49 and 40 from Rob Porter edged Congleton home.

Tattenhall beat Mobberley by six wickets at a heavily overcast Flacca Field after dismissing their visitors for 159, Stuart Blackburn a polished 60, Nigel Cox 4-24, Mel Dobson 4-33.

John Hope's 71 was the key to Tattenhall's successful reply, with former Northwich batsman Danny Murray contributing an invaluable 38 after his 12 months' sabbatical.

Mobberley have obtained a useful player/coach in Syed Muijjtaba, an Indian all-rounder who played in the Huddersfield League in 2004.

There was some high-scoring at Bredbury, where St Mark's rattled up 214-8, Chris Wood 43, before Middlewich 'had a go' to reach 193-8, Paul Parry 64 not out.

Saturday's Results, ECB Premier Division:

Alderley Edge (won toss, 10 pts), drew with Hyde (14)

Hyde 227-8 dec. (55 overs: J Duffy 134); Alderley Edge 198-7 (55 overs: M Walker 72, M Day 51, D Berry 4-35).

Chester Boughton Hall (23 pts) beat Nantwich (toss 7) by 24 runs

Chester 155 (52 overs: J Yates 42, C Hampshire 5-44); Nantwich 131 (50 overs: R Doyle 47, A Kegg 5-26).

Oulton Park (25 pts) beat Christleton (toss, 7) by 117 runs

Oulton Park 273-7 dec (55 overs: P Berry 73, D Leech 56, J Davies 35, A Robinson 30, G Newell 3-71); Christleton 156 (43 overs: C Baker 33, N Dumelow 5-59, C Jones 3-26).

Oxton (11 pts) drew with Neston (18)

Oxton 145 (54 overs: N Cross 81, S Marshall 4-42, S Clifford 4-57), Neston 145-9 (56 overs: C Finegan 52. A Birley 3-31, N Cross 3-32).

Toft (20pts) beat Bowdon (toss 9) by 5 wickets

Bowdon 18-65 dec. (55 overs: N Murrills 49, S Ball 30, N Muirhead 3-43); Toft 187-5 (52 overs; A Bones 561, R Emslie 38, A Carolan 34).

Widnes (8 pts) drew with Poynton (14)

Poynton 213-6 dec (55 overs: D Thompson 94 no, B Kingham 64, B Mukherjee 3-50, S Mahboob 3-51); Widnes 156 -7 (55 overs: A Hurdley 61, S Titchard 50).

First Division:

Birkenhead Park (16 pts) drew with Winnington Park (10)

Birkenhead Park 189-9dec (55 overs: M Smith 60, I Platt 57 no, C Stenhouse 41); Winnington Park 182-9 (55 overs: J Lewis 128 no, C Stanhouse 5-70).

Bramhall (toss, 24 pts) beat Upton (5) by 96 runs

Bramhall 208-7 dec (50 overs: J Day 64 no, A Mashitter 41); Upton 112 (40 overs: N Barlow 6-20).

Cheadle 171 (23 pts) beat Cheadle Hulme (7) by 46 runs

Cheadle 171 (P Slattery 60, F Shaikh 42, E McCray 6-50); Cheadle Hulme 125 (C Grindey 32, E McCray 30, P Manser 5-42).

Didsbury (toss, 3 pts) lost by 98 runs to Urmston (25)..

Urmston 181-5 dec (50 overs) C Watson 74, D Kumar 55, D Pugsley 4-37); Didsbury 83 (38 overs: T Gane 37, R Tootell 6-21.

Heaton Mersey (7 pts) lost by 5 wickets to Alsager (20)

Heaton Mersey 164-9 dec, (50 overs: M Norbury 44, N Cantello 33, S Woolley 3-34); Alsager 165-5 42 overs; P Pickford 55, T Brayley 33).

Macclesfield (12 pts) drew with Warrington (7)

Macclesfield 185-6 dec (50 overs: C Buckley 56, P Agar 5-50); Warrington 127-8 (50 overs: I Tate 6-33).

Second Division:

Bollington (toss, 3 pts) lost by 6 wickets to Timperley (25)

Bollington 120 (g Wood 31, M Maddocks 3-15, N Liddell 3-15); Timperley 124-4 (M Ward 36, C Byrne 30).

Bredbury St Mark's (toss 14pts) drew with Middlewhich (11)

Bredbury 214-8 dec (50 overs: C Wood 43, S Price 3-78) Middlewich 193-8 (50 overs: P Parry 61, N Lee 44)

Brooklands (toss 15 pts) drew with Burnage (7)

Brooklands 199-4 dec. (50 overs: P Halkon aged 15 66 no, D Madden 53, J Birchall 47); Burnage 150-9 (50 overs: M Khan 30, P Garnett 3-33, J Birchall 3-34).

Congleton (toss 20 pts) beat Irby (11) by 4 wickets

Irby 194-9 dec. (50 overs: M Newman 94, A Farr 5-47, D Roberts 3-20); Congleton 196-6 (49.3 overs: A Dale 49, H Kann 3-61).

Sale (14 pts) drew with Grappenhall (11)

Sale 201 (50 overs: P Allum 83, G Watterson 31, R Hudd 5-26); Grappenhall 174-8 (50 overs: R Green 70, W Sharp 43, R Jamil 4-37).

Tattenhall (toss 20pts) beat Mobberley (8) by 6 wickets

Mobberley 159 (50 overs: S Blackburn 60, N Cox 4-24, M Dobson 4-33); Tattenhall 165-4 (49 overs: J Hope 71, D Murray 37, S Mujtaba 3-66).

League Fixtures on Saturday, April 30:

ECB Premier League 12.30pm: Alderley Edge v Chester Boughton Hall, Bowdon v Oulton Park, Christleton v Hyde, Nantwich v Oxton, Neston v Widnes, Poynton v Toft.

Division One 1pm: Alsager v Didsbury, Cheadle Hulme v Birkenhead Park, Upton v Heaton Mersey, Urmston v Macclesfield, Warrington v Cheadle, Winnington Park v Bramhall.

Division Two 1pm: Burnage v Congleton, Grappenhall v Bollington, Irby v Tattenhall, Middlewich v Sale, Mobberley v Bredbury St Mark's, Timperley v Brooklands.

Second XI Premier Division 1pm: Chester Boughton Hall v Alderley Edge, Didsbury v Bowdon, Hyde v Timperley, Oxton v Nantwich, Toft v Upton, Widnes v Neston.

Jack Gardner Third XI Trophy 1pm: Mini league games on Sunday: Woodford v Birkenhead Park, Grappenhall v Ashley, Chester BH v Alderley, Marple v Upton, Irby v Ashton on Mersey, Nantwich v Stockport, Bramhall v Oxton, Timperley v Bredbury St M, New Brighton v Warrington, Hale Barns v Urmston.

Second XI Division One 1pm: Birkenhead Park v Cheadle Hulme, Bramhall v Winnington Park, Brooklands v Urmston, Congleton v Warrington, Heaton Mersey v Poynton, Oulton Park v Alsager.

Second XI Division Two 1pm: Bollington v Grappenhall, Bredbury St Mark's v Mobberley, Cheadle v Burnage, Macclesfield v Christleton, Sale v Middlewich, Tattenhall v Irby.

Third XI Division 1pm: Birkenhead Park v Upton 4th, Chester BH 4th v Neston 4th, Irby 3rd v Oxton, Macclesfield v Brooklands, Neston 3rd v Chester BH 3rd, Timperley v Irby 4th, Upton 3rd v Birkenhead Park 3rd, Urmston v Warrington 4th, Warrington 3rd v Cheadle Hulme.

Jack Gardner Trophy games on BH Monday, May 21pm: Didsbury v Woodford, Cheadle Hulme v Grappenhall, Sale v Chester BH, Upton v Tattenhall, Heaton Mersey v Irby, Stockport v Neston, Oxton v Christleton, Alsager v Timperley, Warrington v Macclesfield.