WARRINGTON'S third-placed cricket team made their Cheshire County League title bid harder by going down at second-placed Winnington.

Warrington put on 40 in the first 10 overs. After Smith fell, Hughes and Agar plundered average bowling to put on 143 before Hughes was out for 86 with an elaborate carve over point.

Malcolm Agar went for 78 and Warrington struggled to 213 after losing wickets in a bid for quick runs.

Warrington's fielding and bowling cost them the game. Coneeney and Paul Hitchen were smashed for 10 an over. Only Paul Agar came away with respectable figures of 1-49. Warrington's missed chances cost them dearly and allowed Winnington a comfortable win.

The seconds emerged with an unlikely win against Upton.

Warrington struggled to 141 all out with only C. Jolley, 65 and J. Edwards, 18 not out, making worthwhile contributions.

Morris removed two Upton batsmen in the first over but at 123-3 victory appeared a formality.

However, the game changed as Morris, 6-35, ably supported by all-rounder Edwards, 3-19, removed the last seven batsmen for 10 runs, to secure victory by eight runs.

At last the thirds strong batting played to its potential on a miserable day at Caldy.

Steve Quick hit a lightning 80 and Mike Lindop supported him in an opening stand of 126.

Liam Heaphy drove a 44 and Brian Boys struck an unbeaten 49. The declaration came on 252-5 but rain ruined any hopes of a win.

Warrington Fourths continued to fight for survival with a hard-fought win against Timperley.

Musker, 2-9 and Naseem, 31 not out, gave Gwatkin, 61 not out, support in a total of 175-2 declared.

Timperley's young side found the hostile pace of Keith Dawkins too hot to handle, as he finished with 7-52.

In a rain affected match, the top two teams in the division, Warrington and Crewe RR, drew a topsy-turvy game.

Warrington limped to 126-9. Dhingra, 36, top scored. The score was a poor effort, despite a difficult wicket.

Cockburn struck with the first ball and Dawkins ripped out the next three batsmen. Cockburn then produced the ball of the day to bowl Whittingham, leaving Crewe on 20-5.

S. McLeod bowled an excellent spell of off-spin and he took the key wicket.

Naseem then removed Hampshire and Harpe and Crewe finished on 100-7. Both teams look set for promotion.

Warrington 1st v Winnington Park

Warrington

M. Agar st E. Welch b A. Parkinson 78

B. Smith ct J. Lewis b J. Cowell 10

J. Hughes ct S. Leech b J. Cowell 86

I. Sleigh run out 2

M. Caven ct C. Leech by A. Parkinson 0

D. Lindop st E. Welch b A. Parkinson 2

B. Bray st E. Welch b A. Parkinson 2

L. Nunn ct C. Leech by J. Cowell 8

P. Agar ct E. Welch b A. Parkinson 2

P. Hitchen not out 3

Extras 20

Total 213-9

Winnington: 217-3. Bowling: P. Hitchen 6.3-1-45-1, P. Agar 15-2-49-1, J. Coneeney 5-0-49-0, L. Nunn 6-0-36-0, M. Agar 5-0-26-1, I. Sleigh 1-0-9-0.

Warrington 2nd v Upton

Warrington

C. Houghton b Robinson 3

K. Dyson ct and b Robinson 12

C. Jolley b Holmes 65

D. Baxter ct and b Holmes 3

T. Rothwell lbw b Holmes 3

R. Stirrup ct and b Beacher 9

J. Coneeney b Smith 7

H. Morris b Smith 1

B. Morris b Smith 7

J. Edwards not out 18

S. Hill ct Beacher b Holmes 0

Extras 13

Total 191

Upton: 133-10. Bowling: Morris 15-3-37-6, Coneeney 13-3-35-1, Edwards 9-3-19-3, Dyson 2-0-19-0.

Warrington 3rd v Caldy

Warrington

S. Quick ct Lorains 80

M. Lindop ct Lorains 40

L. Heaphy b Brown 44

A. Mitchell b Brown 12

B. Boys not out 49

A. Wooldridge b Brown 0

N. Addison not out 10

Extras 17

Total 252-5

Warrington 4th v Timperley

Warrington

M. Cornelia ct J. Long 15

G. Musker ct Lucas 29

M. Gwatkin not out 61

M. Naseem not out 31

Extras 24

Total 175-5

Timperley: 136. Bowling: K. Dawkins 18-3-52-7, D. Loughlin 3-1-8-0, T. Balmer 8-0-32-1, S. Supra 3-1-2-0, M Naseem 7-2-13-0, G. Musker 4-0-11-0, M. Gwatkin 2-0-6-0, G. Atkins 2-0-13-0.

Warrington 5ths v Crewe

Warrington

D. Quick b Whittingham 2

S. Quick ct Earpe 23

T. Corroboy run out 1

P. Dhingra ct McLeod 36

R. Stirrup ct and b Earpe 8

L. Heaphy ct McLeod 2

M. Naseem b McLeod 1

B. Boys not out 19

G. Musker b price 4

C. Cockburn b McLeod 14

K. Dawkins not out 2

Total 126-9

Crewe: 100-7. Bowling: C. Cockburn 14-5-22-2, K. Dawkins 7-3-23-3, D. Quick 4-0-19-0, M. Naseem 6-0-16-2, S. Quick 3-0-13-0..

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.