SALE Cricket Club could not escape a near washout across the county on Saturday with neither the first XI at Stockport or the seconds at home to Brooklands able to start their games due to heavy rain, all sides settling for seven points each.

The washout settled any remaining promotion and relegation issues within the Cheshire County League with one game to go.

The firsts look set to finish mid-table in Division One – a creditable performance after a poor start – while any outside chance of promotion to the Premier Division for the second XI ended as they cannot now catch second-placed Upton.

Of the Sunday teams, the third XI stay in the Premier Division by the smallest of margins after second-bottom Oxton beat champions Didsbury to finish just one point behind Sale.

The fourths – the academy team for younger players – finished mid-table in Division Two East.

In the final round of matches on Saturday, the first XI visit Bowdon and the seconds play the reverse fixture at Dane Road.