Results August 12

Division One – August 12:

Appleton 76 (35; Emma Barlow 24, Sophie Connor 2-6, Emma Tarpey 2-9, Jane Tarpey 2-11) (3pts)
Oakmere 39-1 (13.4; Kerry Hartnett 26*) (25pts)
(Oakmere win on faster scoring rate)

This was perhaps the pivotal result of the season, as reigning champions Oakmere moved back to the top of the table, and restricted rivals Appleton to just three bonus points. This was Appleton’s first league defeat since a loss to the same opposition in the second week of May, but it was Oakmere’s first defeat since a match at Stockport Trinity in the first week of May – Oakmere are unbeaten against division one sides and curiously their only reverse came in a cross-divisional fixture against all-conquering second division champions Trinity. Oakmere dominated the play that was possible here, and indeed the biggest threat to their victory came via a lengthy rain break, with play only able to resume when the bare minimum of 20 overs to constitute a match remained. Appleton’s chances of landing the championship now appear to rely on Oakmere slipping up, either against Chester Boughton Hall on September 2, or Wistaston Village on September 9.

Wistaston Village 128-4 (30; Hannah Bratt 69*, Morganne Prince 28, Charlotte Thompson 2-10) (8pts)
Chester Boughton Hall 132-5 (28.4; Lorna Starkey 69*, Thompson 22, Zoe Cabral 20, Christine Lawson 2-18, Bratt 2-23) (25pts)
(Restricted to 30 overs per side)

Wistaston’s first league win of the year remains elusive, although they did gain maximum batting points in this reduced overs clash, before making Chester fight for the runs – they eventually got home with eight balls to spare.

Division Two – August 12:

Stockport Georgians 119 (38; Beth Garnett 63, Gaby McKeever 4-6, Lucy Higginbotham 3-15, Hattie Roberts 2-20) (3pts)
Stockport Trinity 121-0 (15.5; Carys White 60*, Kate Harvey 38*) (24pts)

Newly crowned second division winners Stockport Trinity really did play like champions in this most local of all local derbies. Although Beth Garnett held the Georgians innings together, their total was passed inside 16 overs without loss, as Trinity warmed up in style for their two cup finals the following week.

Ashton-on-Mersey 51 (26.3; Nicola Nolan 12, Ella Smith 4-11, Poppy Donohue 3-4) (1pt)
Leigh 55-0 (8.1; Daisy Mullan 27*, Carrie Blood 25*) (25pts)

In a division where the other four teams could still finish second behind Trinity, Leigh moved slightly ahead of the other three teams with this crushing victory.

Division Three Cross-Divisional – August 12:

Didsbury 2nd XI 118-7 (30; Amy Walkman 25, Abby Nicholson 21, Kelsey Barker 3-7) (7pts)
Nantwich 119-6 (28.5; Bethan Robinson 37, Florence Seymour 23, Tasneem Akram 5-15) (25pts)

Nantwich emerged victorious in this match between the two teams who became the first to complete their league programme. The victory means that long-time Division Three West pacesetters Upton will need 14 points from their two remaining matches to overhaul Nantwich.