THE weather finally defeated Grappenhall's hopes of achieving a top 12 finish and a place in next year's Premier League.

Saturday's game was abandoned without a ball being bowled and they entered Sunday's game with third place Oxton too far adrift from Hyde in 12th position.

The game ended in defeat for Grappenhall with Oxton scoring 196 in 50 overs and Guy Emmett finishing off the season with six for 59 while Neil Titchard took 4-78.

With both Jackson and Day missing from the batting line up, this was always goint to be a challenging total.

The early loss of this season's leading run scorer S. Muncaster led to a collapse to 43-4.

However, bowling hero Emmett and Tony McCoy put on 50 for the fifth wicket to give Grappenhall a chance of victory.

The loss of Emmett signalled another collapse and despite some big hitting from Neil Titchard, Grappenhall's innings closed at 122 all out.

McCoy finished with 37 runs to complete a great day having previously stumped three and caught one of the Oxton's batsmen.

The seconds were more successful in their aim of scoring top flight status for 1999.

Unfortunately, they failed in their quest to finish runners-up as inclement weather denied them the result they needed.

They visited Poynton on Saturday and David Hudd, 32 and John Dillam, 40, steered the side towars a useful 143-9.

Richard Hudd then took the first Poynton wicket without a run being scored but there was no chance to make further inroads when the heavens opened.

They visited Oxton on Sunday and fought out a hard earned draw.

Only Richard Hudd's 47 shone as the season faded out in quiet fashion.

Oxton v Grappenhall

Oxton: 196 all out. Bowling: E. Sygrove 5-0-0-16, G. Emmett 16-4-6-59, M. Holden 9-0-0-29, N. Titchard 19-1-4-78.

Grappenhall

S. Muncaster ct Benson b Corran 11

W. Sharp ct Curwood b Cooper 24

R. Holden ct Walker b Cooper 1

N. Sharp b Cooper 0

A. McCoy ct Ganet b Corran 37

G. Emmett ct Curwood b Thomas 17

A. Sisson lbw Corran 0

N. Titchard lbw Cooper 23

M. Tilling b Thomas 5

M. Holden lbw Cooper 0

E. Sygrove not out 3

Extras 3

Total 122

Grappenhall 2nd v Poynton 2nd

Grappenhall 2nd

P. Garvey ct Wilde b Hadley 0

D. Coyne ct Cantello b Hadley 6

A. Rayner b Hadley 0

D Hudd ct Hadley b Hadley 32

R. Hudd ct Cantello b Dobbin 11

C. Harrison b Dobbin 5

J. Dillam ct Cantello b Dobbin 40

M. Williams ct Wilde b Buttle 7

J. Sisson st Knibbs b Coram 18

M. Smethurst not out 12

D. Seed not out 3

Extras 9

Total 143-9

Poynton 2nd: 9-1. Bowling: R. Hudd 2.2-1-1-5, M. Williams 2-0-0-4.

Grappenhall 2nd v Oxton 2nd

Grappenhall 2nd

D. Coyne b Ritchie 14

M. Williams st Porter b Ritchie 24

A. Rayner b Fell 26

R. Hudd ct Fell b Ritchie 47

D. Hudd b Ritchie 9

D. Sisson ct b Ritche 4

P. Garvey lbw b Renshaw 30

J. Sisson b Renshaw 10

M. Tyerman not out 16

M. Smethurst not out 0

Extras 10

Total 190-8

Oxton 2nd: 256-6. Bowling: M. Williams 13-2-2-55, A. Rayner 8-1-3-45, D. Sisson 10-1-1-56, R. Hudd 11-1-0-42, M. Smethurst 5-0-0-43.

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