IT was not a good day for local clubs in the Cheshire County League with all of them losing on the opening day of the new season.

Neston went under by 113 runs at Chester Broughton Hall in the Premier Division whilst Oxton were beaten by six wickets at Hyde.

Best for Neston were Chris Hackett with 59 and Jack Smith with a 4-74 return.

Alex Money on 42 top-scored for Oxton.

Upton began life in Division Two with an eight wickets set back against visiting Tattenhall and Irby (Dave Newman 51) failed by five wickets at Stockport.

Wirral made a good start in Division Three of the Cheshire League with a three wickets margin over CH Ladybridge, replying with 208-7 after the visitors declared on 203-8.

Port Sunlight had an opening day draw at home to Wistaston Village in Division One of the Cheshire Alliance, closing seven runs short with four wickets intact.

Old Parkonians lost by 118 runs at Stalybridge St Pauls. Adam Westwater with 4-43 helped restrict the home side to 239-8.

Chris Beckett with an unbeaten 51 tried his best in the Parkonians reply but they were well short on 121 all out.

Ellesmere Port were also losers by 117 runs against Stretton.

Martime began their Division Two programme with a 28 runs reverse at Knutsford whilst Tranmere Vics were edged out by two wickets at the hands of Styal.

Eastham Bromborough in Division Three had 103 runs to spare against Mellor. Ian Corner with an undefeated 126 was the key man.

Liverpool Competition sides featured in the opening stage of the Ray Digman Trophy and generally did well.

There were wins for Caldy by 44 runs against Alder, Birkenhead Park by three wickets at Fleetwood Hesketh, New Brighton by 94 runs at Ormskirk and Parkfield Liscard by four wickets at Southport and Birkdale.

Kamran Hussain contributed 78 for Parkfield and Akmal Ghafoor 46 whilst Lewis Toland took 4-54.

Alex Stewart 38 and Richard Battersby 4-28 did best for Caldy.

Chris Bellis struck top score of 48 for Birkenhead Park.

Top of the bill for New Brighton was Martyn Evans on 88 followed by Louis Botes 44.

Wallasey (Greg Beaver 62) went down by 68 runs against Colwyn Bay.

Birkenhead St Mary’s (Ben Edmundson 5-12) fell by 103 runs at Rainhill.

Birkenhead Park begin life back in the Liverpool Competition Premier Division with a home clash against Northern on Saturday.

Wallasey have Maghull as visitors whilst New Brighton cross the river to Bootle.

There is a Birkenhead St Mary’s v Parkfield Liscard derby in Division Two while Caldy begin at home to Hightown.

Cheshire County League Premier Division clashes include Oxton v Grappenhall and Neston v Hyde.

In Division Two Upton travel to Heaton Mersey with Irby entertaining Congleton.

Wirral are due at Haslington in Division Three of the Cheshire League.

Cheshire Alliance Division One games include Old Parkonians v Saughall, Glazebury v Port Sunlight and Ellesmere Port v Wilmslow.

Maritime against Styal and Tranmere Vics against Westminster Park have home fixtures in Division Two whilst in Division Three Eastham Bromborough are away to Port Sunlight 2nd.

Scoresboard: Cheshire County League Premier Div:_ Chester Broughton Hall 320, Neston 207; Hyde 151-4, Oxton 150. Div Two: Upton 133, Tattenhall 134-2; Stockport 125-5, Irby 123.

Cheshire Alliance. Div One: Ellesmere Port 104, Stretton 221; Port Sunlight 182-6, Wistaston Village 189-7dec; Stalybridge St Pauls 239-8dec, Old Parkonians 121. Div Two: Knutsford 98, Maritime 70; Styal 157-8, Tranmere Vics 155. Div Three: Eastham Bromborough 227-7dec, Mellor 124.

Cheshire League Div Three: Wirral 208-7, CH Ladybridge 203-8dec.

Liverpool Competition Ray Digman Trophy: Caldy 195, Alder 151-7; Colwyn Bay 241-6, Wallasey 173; Fleetwood Hesketh 154, Birkenhead Park 156-7; New Brighton 268-6, Ormskirk 174; Rainill 205, Birkenhead St Mary’s 102; Southport & Birkdale.