Solicitor Freddie Timmins laid down the law to bowlers at Alvanley and Toft - top-scoring for Timperley second and fifth teams over the weekend.

The city-centre based 26-year-old, who joined the Stockport Road club from Didsbury last year so he would be closer to his work in Altrincham, scored 46 for the seconds on Saturday.

But it was not enough as the high-riding second string lost by three wickets, despite posting 240.

Twenty four hours later, Timmins was given special dispensation by Toft to be allowed to play against them for the fifth team having appeared for the seconds.

But the Toft captain must have been regretting his kind gesture as Timmins smashed 84 to lead Timperley to the away side’s 165.

The first team’s teenage wicketkeeper, Freddie Vaughan-Hawkins, scored a creditable 40 as they ended their innings at Neston on 204 all out.

But Neston just about got over the line, dramatically winning by one wicket.

Timperley skipper, Ed Galley, said: “We should really have won this one. Frustratingly, we didn’t manage to use all our 55 overs.”

The County Cup final for the under-15s team at Timperley was a damp squib.

The under-performing team were hammered out of sight by Oxton who spun them out for 37 - a score their Wirral opponents overtook in just five overs.

Meanwhile, Timperley has a new shirt sponsor with the club signing a four-figure contract with the thriving Manchester-based Truth PR company operated by Lisa French, whose son Rohan plays for the U11s.

Two new shirts, in white and green, bearing the company logo will be available to the club’s  200 cricket members next season.

French, who was the club’s guest of honour at the annual Bollywood fundraiser last Saturday, said: “I wanted to get involved because Timperley is community-based and such a friendly place providing sporting opportunities to so many local people.”