Fifth spot

Both players hit ten fours apiece, and also Wood smote two sixes and Morgan one.

Morgan ended 77 not out, and Wood 73 not out. This was the Marple captain’s eighth half century in eight innings this season, and sees him past 500 league runs, a remarkable sequence.

Morgan’s powerful driving also drew audible gasps from spectators as the ball scorched the turf.

Match ball sponsor was former Marple and Cheshire wicket keeper Tom Hodson.

Marple are now in fifth place in what has become a very tight league. There is still very little between the top six clubs, but at the other end of the table, two or three sides are already looking in trouble.

Next Saturday sees Marple visit old rivals Macclesfield with a 1.00pm start.

In a seesaw game at Upton, Marple seconds ended up on slightly the worse side of an entertaining drawn game.

Two uneven scorecards saw the home team post 171 for 9 after being 21 for 4 and 61 for 6, Newhouse, 34, Williams, 39, and Livingstone 51.

Jack Grundy was the pick of the Marple bowlers with 3 for 40. Marsland, Clarke and Bass had two apiece.

In the reply, Marple got away to a good start, with Will Darby 18, Mark Nicholson, 40, and Andy Wild 33 leading the way.

The middle order collapsed though, and it was left to skipper Clarke and Tom Travis, 16 not out, to save the day, Marple closing on 142 for 7.

On Sunday, Marple thirds got back to winning ways with a nine wicket thrashing of neighbours Bramhall.

The visitors struggled to 132 for 9, with Jacob Combey 3 for 29, Mike Smith 2 for 31 and Ryan Ellis 2 for 16.

Despite being 1 for 1, Marple, led by stand in skipper, the inform David Brook (70 not out) and Jonny Arrowsmith (49 not out) cantered home to a welcome victory.