Oulton Park’s binary season continues

Oulton Park’s slide continues, and a huge 167-run defeat at title-chasing Timperley last weekend is their fifth in succession in the Cheshire County League’s top-flight.

Before that, they had won the previous five Premier Division matches.

That at least means that the men from Little Budworth have enough points on the board no to be glancing pensively over their shoulder.

However they now sit seventh in the table, and an unforgiving fixture list sends Chester Boughton Hall their way next.

Their resolve is being tested.

Davenham deliver timely victory

A third victory of the campaign, by 30-runs at Sale, will make the side from Butcher’s Stile feel better.

They woke up on Saturday occupying a position above the relegation zone in the county league’s second tier, and ended it by trading places with their hosts.

Sam Hunt, dismissed for a duck earlier, recovered to take four wickets during a rare bowling spell to dash the hosts’ hopes.

There is still work to do, and fourth-placed Bowdon provide a test of their improvement this weekend.

Weaverham enter danger zone

An eighth defeat of the campaign for the Russets will feel most painful.

They were convincingly beaten by Tattenhall, who climb above them in the standings, and tumble into the bottom two as a consequence.

Ian Eaton’s side are not without hope, although their objective must be to take points off teams who like them are battling to avoid demotion to the Cheshire League.

It was a bad day at the office; Tatters piled on more than 300 runs, while their opponents fell for 137.

Kingsley continue to defy expectation

Toby Mullins’ side have won seven of their 12 matches this season, and yet still only sit sixth in the Cheshire League’s top-flight.

An unbeaten century for Kingsley Warman, who together with Hayden Lanza built a match-winning partnership, helped them to successfully chase 215 to beat visiting Ashton on Mersey.

It demonstrated their resolve too following a thrashing at Port Sunlight in the T20 Cup last eight only 48 hours earlier.

If their target is to establish themselves at the highest level the club has played at, then they are on course to reach it.

Oakmere dismantle another direct rival

After swatting aside Stockport Trinity last month, Oakmere crushed another contender for promotion from the Cheshire League’s second division in the form of Chelford.

Slade Mitrovich starred again with the bat, racing to 93 off just 38 balls, but a brilliant performance with the ball from Matt Howard laid a foundation for their 11th victory in 12 attempts this season.

The hosts fell for 128, a total the visitors passed in less than 13 overs.

They are favourites now to be promoted as champions, but the job is only half-done.

Keep an eye on Winnington Park

A hammering of Stretton, during a game in which they posted their highest total of the campaign, is a fifth win in the past seven matches for in-form Winnington Park.

Their only defeats in that sequence have been against teams above them in the table.

Alec Butcher’s men still have room for improvement, and a narrow margin for error, but they can be optimistic of putting pressure on those ahead of them in a race for promotion if they continue to pick up maximum points.

Opener Sam Barnes, with 75, led the way last weekend as they chalked up 258-9.