GRAPPENHALL had a weekend of mixed fortunes in their quest for achieving Premier League status next year.

On Saturday, a poor batting performance on a good Toft wicket resulted in a miserly total of 122 runs.

Only Steve Muncaster, 31, and Michael Day, 32, resisted the Toft attack and despite a late flurry from Tony McCoy the final total was never enough to test the Toft batting and defeat was inevitable by eight wickets.

On Monday, however, the bowlers had first use of a good Grappenhall wicket and contained Stalybridge to a modest 177 with Hudd, Sygrove and Titchard being the pick of the bowlers.

Grappenhall, despite the early loss of Muncaster, comfortably eased home thanks to a superb display of strokes from Will Sharp, 60 and a magnificent 84 not out from Michael Day completed a memorable weekend for the homeward bound Australian.

Grapppenhall are now 23 points away from a top 12 finish with three games left.

The seconds visited bottom placed Stalybridge on Bank Holiday Monday. Without a win all season the hosts were not likely to prove much of a test for high flying Grappenhall and this proved to be the case. Grappenhall built up a respectable score of 173-9 in 47 overs. Ashley Rayner worked hard on a poor wicket for his unbeaten 72.

They also produced a top quality batting display to defeat Toft on Saturday.

Toft set a total of 205-4 in 49 overs.

Grappenhall's opening partnership of Paul Garvey and David Coyne put on 61 to get things underway.

When the two Hudd's, David and Richard got together, the home side needed 113 to win off just 18 overs. The partnership proceeded to hit 83 off nine overs and the total was passed with three overs to spare.

Grappenhall's four wicket victory left them with a 20 point haul.

Grappenhall v Toft

Grappenhall

S. Muncaster run out 31

W. Sharp b Locke 0

N. Sharp ct Locke 8

M. Day ct Locke 32

R. Holden ct Bertenshaw 0

A. McCoy ct Locke 19

N. Titchard ct Locke 14

G. Emmett st Locke 3

M. Holden st Bertenshaw 1

D. Sisson run out 8

E. Sygrove not out 0

Extras 6

Total 122

Toft: 123-2. Bowling: M. Holden 7-1-0-17, M. Davy 7-2-0-23, D. Sisson 11-4-1-32, E. Sygrove 5-1-0-10, G. Emmett 9.2-3-1-23, N. Titcjhard 3-0-0-8.

Grappenhall v Stalybridge

Stalybridge: 177-8. Bowling: M. Holden 7-1-0-32, R. Hudd 9-0-2-37, E. Sygrove 11-3-2-19, N. Titchard 13.2-3-2-29, M. Day 5-1-0-32, G. Emmett 4-1-1-20.

Grappenhall

W. Sharp ct Harwick 60

S. Muncaster ct Laylor 1

G. Emmett b Fahy 10

M. Day not out 84

N. Sharp not out 15

Extras 9

Total 179-3

Grappenhall 2nd v Stalybridge 2nd

Grappenhall 2nd

P. Garvey b Taylor 6

D. Coyne ct Sidall b Taylor 14

D. Hudd b Mee 0

C. Harrison ct Godwin b Mee 13

A. Rayner not out 72

M. Williams run out 32

M. Tilling lbw b Middleton 0

D. Sisson ct Mee b Middleton 5

J. Sisson run out 4

A. Hards b Middleton 6

M. Tyerman not out 16

Extras 5

Total 173-9

Stalybridge 2nd: 101. Bowling: M. Williams 9-4-3-33, D. Sisson 10-2-0-35, C. Harrison 8-3-4-11, A. Rayner 7-5-2-6, A. Hards 0.3-0-1-1.

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