WARRINGTON hit the last weekend of the season lying in 13th place in the Cheshire County League table, one spot below that required for inclusion in next year's Premier League.

The weather was looking bleak but play still got underway against Birkenhead Park on Saturday despite the damp conditions.

Warrington bowled with their usual tidiness as 17-year-old spinner David de Prez added yet another five wicket haul to his tally, taking his season's total haul to 78.

In reply, Warrington began promisingly with Smith and Catterall showing form which belied the difficult conditions.

A mini collapse, however, then rocked the visitors before torrential rain put a permanent end to proceedings when they were looking finely balanced.

At least the weather relented on Sunday to give Warrington a fighting chance of making the cut.

However, news filtered through that their rivals for the last Premier League position, Hyde, were progressing smoothly to maximum batting points so all hopes were in vain.

Warrington's performance on the day reflected this sombre mood and Alsager took full advantage of the tiny boundaries on their home ground to notch up a formidable score of 227-4.

Warrington began with purpose thanks to Catterall and Smith and ot looked as though they might finish gloriously.

However, as the wicket dried out, it began to play all manner of tricks, particularly for slow left armer Ford who ran through the Warrington middle order.

Ford took eight wickets as Warrington were despatched for 158 and condemned to being a Second Division club again.

The seconds must be grateful for their strong start to the season after an abysmal close.

They secured a place in next season's top division during July and August but crumbled to a 123 run defeat in their final game with Alsager.

Only Hitchen showed the necessary fire in the bowling attack and veteran Davies, 33, put together a knock of any note.

The thirds completed an excellent double when they beat Upton on Saturday to win the league for the first time.

This followed up from winning the cup for the fourth consecutive time the week before.

They put Upton into bat in a rain affected game. Fine bowling from Lewis Nunn, 4-50 and Paul Bayley, 3-40, restricted Upton to 103-8 off a maximum 42 overs.

After rain intervened, Warrington only had 24 overs to pass Upton's total and after five overs reached 50-1 when the rains came again. They returned with only six over left to find 54 runs.

Six were required off the last over and it went down to the last ball with one run required - Warrington ran a bye and secured the win.

Martin Ford led the way with the bat, hitting an excellent 42 with four sixes in one over.

Peter Davies finished on 30 not out and Nigel Stanhope 19 not out.

Warrington v Birkenhead Park

Birkenhead Park: 151-6. Bowling: A. Wright 7-2-0-14, D de Prez 26.5-8-5-58, P. Agar 20-3-1-66.

Warrington

P. Catterall ct Smith b McCormick 26

B. Smith ct Finnegan b Evans 29

M. Suen ct Smith b McCormick 3

J. Hughes ct Scholes b Evans 10

R. Taylor not out 3

J. Davison not out 0

Extras 5

Total 76-4

Warrington 1st v Alsager

Alsager: 227-4. Bowling: J. Davison 11-0-1-44, D de Prez 20-7-1-64, P. Agar 3-0-0-26, A. Wright 15-0-2-88.

Warrington

P. Catterall ct Molyneux b Ford 40

B. Smith ct Slater b Ford 20

M. Suen b Bull 34

R. Taylor ct Tibbetts b Ford 0

M. Agar ct b Ford 0

I. Sleigh ct Molyneux b Ford 4

J. Davison ct Armitage b Bull 6

D de Prez b Ford 23

J. Hughes b Ford 14

P. Agar not out 2

A. Wright b Ford 4

Extras 11

Total 158

Warrington 2nd v Alsager

Alsager: 206-5. Bowling: J. Coneeny 7-0-0-25, H. Morris 10-2-0-29, H de Prez 9-0-1-41, P. Hitchen 13-2-3-58, S. Quick 4-0-1-28, S. Amos 4-0-0-20.

Warrington 2nd

M. Ford ct Barber b Brooks 3

I. Wright ct Cooper b Brooks 0

A. Kirby run out 12

P. Davies b Steele 33

D. Lindop b Perry 10

S. Amos ct Warrington b Perry 4

H. Morris ct Warrington b Perry 0

S. Quick b Stancliffe 0

P. Hitchen ct Stancliffe b Cooper 8

J. Coneeny b Stancliffe 0

H de Prez not out 0

Extras 13

Total 83

Warrington 3rd v Upton 3rd

Upton: 103-8. Bowling: P. Bayley 4-3-3-40, L. Nunn 21-6-4-50.

Warrington

C. Houghton ct Oaks 9

M. Ford st Oaks 42

P. Davies not out 30

N. Stanhope not out 19

Extras 4

Total 104-2

GRAPPENHALL AND WARRINGTON MISS PREMIERSHIP

Teenager David de Prez took 78 wickets in the season.

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