APPLETON stretched their unbeaten run to seven games after a convincing win at Saughall.

The win keeps Appleton 27 points clear at the top of Cheshire Alliance Division Two with only six games to go.

Saughall batted first but were restricted for runs thanks to some great bowling by E Sygrove and Woods.

The home side could only muster 176 in their allotted overs and then, after failing for the past two weeks, Appleton's top order shone in reply.

Mike Arnold kept his excellent season going with a brutal 77, with Rich Clarke knocking a measured 63 not out, to enable Appleton to pass the Saughall total with four wickets in hand.

The second team had an easy win at Mossley, where Dave Bedford picked up five wickets for 21 runs as Mossley collapsed to 53 all out.

In response, Marcus Pepper scored a quickfire 42 to help the Lyons Lane side win by nine wickets.

Chester Boughton Hall and Hyde avenged their early season defeats to Appleton Cricket Club's women's teams with comfortable victories at their own grounds this week.

Appleton could only manage 89 for 6 in reply to Chester's 164 for 1 in the first match but the clash with Hyde was much closer thanks to an unbroken partnership of 107 between Emma Barlow, 57, and Annie Rasheed, 37.

Rasheed bowled with pace and accuracy, taking two wickets, but Hyde were too strong and reached their target of 108 with three overs to spare.