Can a cup win become a catalyst for an Oulton Park recovery?

Oulton Park have been out of form, and luck, during a seven-match losing run that reached a nadir when they couldn’t defend a total of 328 against Chester Boughton Hall at Little Budworth on Saturday.

And they could be forgiven for fearing the worst the following afternoon too when they found themselves 58-5 the following day in a Cheshire Cup quarter-final encounter with lower-ranked Upton.

However this group is made of stern stuff, and they rallied to record a 26-run victory after Matt Jamieson (56) and Ben Gibbon (69no) had combined to rescue their innings.

It’s a fillip that they badly needed ahead of a trip to Grappenhall next weekend.

A defining game up next for Weaverham

If the Russets are to avoid a return to the Cheshire League, and with it a second successive relegation, then they can ill-afford a defeat against Mobberley next weekend.

The teams will be separated by 14 points at the start of play, with Weaverham occupying a position in the Division Two drop zone.

A 224-run reverse in the return game will hopefully motivate Ian Eaton’s men.

They lost by eight wickets at Lindow last time out – a ninth defeat of the campaign – when they were dismissed for 87.

However Weaverham have proven they can win games at this level, and none would be timelier than when a direct rival visits.

Northwich serve a reminder of what they can do

There will be slight frustration for Northwich that they couldn’t claim a victory after having the better of a head-to-head with Alvanley – an opponent captain James Plant rates as the best his side met in the first-half of the campaign.

However they will be encouraged by overseas signing Tharusha Fernando stepping up in the absence of Mark Walker and Lee Evans to post his best score since arriving from Sri Lanka.

A bowling attack with everybody available almost dismissed the visitors to Moss Farm, who closed on 184-9 chasing 205.

If Northwich can complete a double over back-markers Runcorn next time out, they could climb into the table’s top half.

Can anybody stop Oakmere?

A defeat for closest-rivals Stockport Trinity, at the same time Oakmere were dismantling Middlewich, leaves the men from Overdale Lane with a 49-point lead at the top of the table.

Their 12th win of the campaign was among the most straightforward after skipper Craig Phelan (7-18) returned career-best figures to help knock over their latest opponents for 90.

Chelford, in third place, are 75 points adrift of first position – leaving Oakmere with a considerable margin for error.

Of course, they won’t want to use it.

And the signs are that with batsman Slade Mitrovich in rampant form, and closing in on 700 runs for the campaign, they’ll not need to.

Winnington Park have too much to do now, don’t they?

Not quite, but a five-wicket defeat at home to Poynton in Division Two on Saturday leaves them 56 points adrift of an promotion place.

Park have struggled to turn the Rec into a fortress this season, and have lost four of the six Cheshire League fixtures played there to date.

They were always playing catch-up after a slow start last time out that left them 36-5.

Wickets for Tyron Young and Michael Dunning made Poynton sweat, but they had too small a total to defend.

A trip to promoted Maritime, only two points better off, next weekend is an opportunity to take back fifth position.

Should Middlewich be concerned?

In a word, yes.

Phil Parry’s side, relegated in each of the past three seasons, has undoubtedly been more competitive this season and have put four wins on the board.

However they will be worried after losing the past four league matches in convincing fashion.

The men from Haddon Field, beaten easily by title-favourites Oakmere last time out, head to high-flying Chelford for their next fixture.

And they do so with a gap of just six points between themselves and the bottom two.

“The past few weeks have reminded us there is a lot of work to do,” Parry told the Guardian before the weekend.