GRAPPENHALL continued their impressive last-gasp bid to avoid relegation from Murray Smith Cheshire County League Division One by recording their fourth win on the bounce.

They defeated Heaton Mersey in their customary last over run-chasing style at the weekend and they now have a good chance of avoiding the drop.

They only have two games left to play, the first of which could not be any tougher.

Poynton will provide Grappenhall's opposition on Saturday and the table toppers have home advantage.

But Grappenhall will go into the game with a psychological advantage having defeated Poynton earlier in the season.

Tight bowling enabled Grappenhall to restrict Heaton to 192 runs for the loss of nine wickets at the weekend.

Neil Titchard claimed three victims and he also excelled with his running between the wickets.

But the star of the show for Grappenhall was Ian Jackson, who has an average score of 80 this season. He made a superb 66 as the visitors reached their target by the skin of their teeth.

S. Hartley, 23 and R. Slater, 30, also excelled with the bat for Grappenhall.

Relegation threatened Grappenhall Seconds suffered a narrow defeat at the hands of Chester Boughton Hall.

They put in a courageous effort in a tough match but fell 13 runs short of their 176 target.

Rick Lunn, who took five wickets for 58 runs, and Matt Fitchett, who finished with figures of 4-20, were Grappenhall's best bowlers while Dave Nicholson, 42, Dean Langhorne, 38 and Jon Worley, 37, shone with the ball.

Grappenhall will do battle with Neston in a must win game at home on Saturday while the club's third team play host to New Brighton.

Ian Barnes needs to score only six runs to break a Cheshire County Cricket League record after making his second century of the season on Friday.

His 112 helped the third team to draw with Hyde and Grappenhall drew again on Sunday.

A cavalier 59 from Nick Williams was the highlight of the game against league leaders Nantwich.