The 1st XI maintained the pressure at the top of Cheshire County League Division One with a dramatic victory over visitors Davenham. Having won the toss and elected to bat, Davenham opener Gough was quickly returning to the pavilion having fallen to the Williams/Marsland combination with the scoreboard reading 4 for 1. The top order for the visitors batted resiliently and helped them reach 114 for 5 but the Upton bowling attack always looked in control, and forced the final five wickets to fall for a combined 35 runs. Ross Dixon was the pick of the bowlers claiming four wickets, with Chris McArthur (1 for 4 from 4 overs) and Liam Sundve (2 for 27 from 11 overs) bowling tight spells, and Tom Marsland was sharp as ever behind the stumps claiming three catches and not letting through any byes. In response, and early mix up saw the prolific McArthur run out for just 5 which enabled Chris Stowell-Smith come to the crease and score his 6,000th league run for the home side. With the top order struggling, the partnership between Dixon and Warburton saw the score tick into three figures but the loss of four wickets for just twelve runs meant the target of 150 looked a long way off from 117 for 8. When Ross Dixon went for a fabulous innings of 56, and fourteen runs needed with 10 & 11 at the crease the balance of power swung the way of Davenham. Welcome to the stage Dave Williams who batted with immense maturity who guided the home side home with eight balls to spare to claim all 25 points in an absolute thriller of a match. The result leaves Upton 38 points ahead of third place and trailing Hyde by just one point going into next week’s eagerly awaited encounter away to the table toppers.

Away at Tattenhall, the hosts won the toss and elected to bat which proved to be a poor call as they were bowled out for just 114 with Rich Battersby picking up five wickets, Graeme Keenan 3 wickets and Alex Livingstone two wickets. In response, the 2nd XI cruised home by six wickets with Luca DiStefano (34 not out) and Rjch Battersby (20 not out) the key men in at the end. The win moves Tom Maguires team up to second in the league, ten points behind leaders Cheadle.

On the back pitch, veterans Ian Potter & Graeme McGowan racked up a whopping 177 for the first wicket with McGowan (56) the first to fall, shortly followed by Potter (97). That foundation enabled skipper Ian Sharrock to declare after 43 overs with the scoreboard showing 218 for and leaving Oxton 4th XI huge total to chase down. With only one of the visiting batsmen reaching double figures, victory was assured with the skipper claiming four wickets, 3 for Phil McGowan, 2 for Joe Green and a very tidy spell of 1 for 6 from 8 overs for the returning Zeeshan Baig. That result lifts the 3rd XI to the top of Cheshire League Division B West.

Facing Chester County Officers 2nd XI, Ian Bruce’s 4th XI found themselves chasing 219 to win. Despite a Rob Chapman half century (51), the visitors were bowled out for just 110m with Paddy Delaney (14) and Ian Bruce (13) the only other batsmen to reach double figures.

Sunday was jam-packed with cricket with the Ladies XI victorious once again defeating Hawarden Park by 22 runs. With the bat, Lily Scudder (50 not out) excelled and with the ball Madi Arthur and Hannah McGowan both took two wickets apiece.