Greenmount’s first eleven came to grief on two knockout competition fronts at the weekend but that disappointment was tempered by a great victory in the league over local rivals Ramsbottom at the Log Cabin on Sunday.
On Friday evening, the Mount travelled to Littleborough for their third T20 (JWL Manchester Craft) group clash but were no match for the home side whose professional Bryce Parsons was in fine form.
The South African hit a splendid 100 including four fours and eight sixes as his side ran up 198 for 3 from their 20 overs.
In reply, the youthful Greenmount side fell 72 runs short with only professional Jacques Snyman (56) and Ishy Patel (15) reaching double figures.
LITTLEBOROUGH v GREENMOUNT SCORECARD
On Saturday, it was a return to Norden in the quarter-final of the Worsley Cup, following a comprehensive 168-run defeat at Stag Park the Sunday before.
Although they bowed out of the prestigious competition on the day, it proved a far cry from the one-sided encounter six days earlier.
Norden won the toss and elected to field then dismissed the villagers for 117 all out in the 38th over with Jacques Snyman (30), Andy Kerry (27) and Travis Townsend (23) scoring the lion’s share of the runs.
At 73 for 3 it looked a routine win for the home side but a flurry of wickets including a superb hat-trick for Dom Ashley had them teetering on 113 for 8.
Nevertheless, a single from Leighton Friend and a four from Rizwan Sadiq saw them over the line and left the Mount pondering what another 20 runs on the board would have done for their chances.
Sunday saw neighbours Ramsbottom make the trip up the A676 hot on the heels of an impressive Worsley Cup victory against league leaders Walsden on Saturday.
However, they were brought down to earth with a bump following a six-wicket defeat that gave the Mount a big lift following their previous two games.
Skipper Travis Townsend’s decision to put the Rams into bat paid off as the Acre Bottom side were dismissed for 98 all out in the 25th over.
Only Brad Fielding with a belligerant 52 including three fours and five sixes showed any resistance until he succumbed to Callum Hunter.
Ishy Patel was their tormentor-in-chief with terrific figures of 6 for 39 while Callum Hunter (3 for 40) and Jacques Snyman (1 for 18) took the remainder.
The Greenmount reply was led by Jacques Snyman who cracked 62 including eight fours and one six while victory was secured with a fifth wicket partnership of 18 from Max Birtwistle and Cameron Mapstone who finished unbeaten on 11 and six respectively.
The 12-point triumph leaves the club sitting in seventh position in the league table.
GREENMOUNT v RAMSBOTTOM SCORECARD
Meanwhile, on Sunday the second team made the return trip to Acre Bottom to face Rammy’s second string.
The home team were restricted to 117 all out with skipper Oli Dixon and Jake Riley taking three wickets apiece, Liam Riley two and one each for Danny Hornby and Dexter Crowther.
That total proved too much for Greenmount who finished on 103 all out. Harry Nuttall scored 33, Liam Riley 21 and Matt Donnelly 17.