MIDDLEWICH ended their wait for a first league in Division One on Saturday, squeezing past hosts Brooklands by nine runs.

Invited to bat, the visitors reached 175 before they were all out with Andrew Tutt (69) and Kieran Boyle (45) sharing in a second-wicket partnership worth 77 runs.

The hosts fell short at 166 in reply, with Sam Brothers (4-48), Kallum Boyle (2-23) and Nigel Stubbs (2-39) combining to secure the points.

Captain Alex Gill held on to three catches.

Davenham registered a fourth win in six matches in Division Two, this time by 78 runs away to Oulton Park.

John O’Sullivan (30) was among the runs before Phil Sharples (67) and Ryan Blackie (24) put on 53 runs for the fifth wicket as the visitors were dismissed for 164.

Damian Barton and Steve Jackson both claimed four wickets for the hosts.

Oulton were then knocked over for 86 by Blackie, whose pace and bounce earned him seven wickets at a cost of only 16 runs.

Danny Ainsworth (31) and Jackson (21) rallied briefly, adding 42 for the eighth wicket after coming together at 41-7, but it was not enough to avoid defeat.

Weaverham beat Alvanley by five wickets at Wallerscote Road, where they restricted the visitors to 140.

Dougie Pinnington and Jarrod Pickering took three wickets.

The Russets needed only 29 overs to secure victory, Jake Lightfoot (45), Rob Harrison (34no) and Jon Lightfoot (33) – the latter duo putting on 48 for the third wicket – at 143-5.

Northwich successfully chased 148 to beat Christleton by two wickets at Moss Farm, where Joseph Walker (45) and Will Marston (31) were their top scorers.

Adam Gittins took 5-45.

Earlier, the away team scored 146-7 with captain Mark Wrench (2-21) and Chris Yearsley (2-22) the pick of the hosts’ attack.