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On Friday evening (25^th August) all members, officials and players are invited to say farewell to popular professional Jacques Snyman and his family on the occasion of his final weekend at the club for 2023.

The South African has made a massive impression with some swashbuckling performances at the Log Cabin this summer and the club is hoping for a great turnout to show appreciation for his efforts on and off the field.

The event is being held in the function room and entrance is free. There will be music and a karaoke, a buffet and if anyone has a particularly ‘bad shirt’ they are being encouraged to wear it!

We hope for a terrific attendance to see off Jacques in true Greenmount style!

On Bank Holiday Monday (28th August) the first team are taking part in the JWL T20 finals day at Littleborough Cricket Club.

The club are hoping to take a good following to the Hare Hill ground, Denhurst Road, Littleborough OL15 9LD in what should be a great day of cricket.

The Mount take on Burnley in their semi-final at 1pm and should they win will take on the winners of Littleborough or Rochdale at 4.30pm. The other semi-final begins at 10am.

Gates open at 9.30am and entrance fee is £5 for adults and £2 for concessions. Payment can be made by cash (having the correct change would be appreciated) or card at the ground entrances.

No outside alcohol is allowed and bag searches will be in operation. However, own chairs are welcome and as there will be limited parking at the venue the club would appreciate car-sharing and uses of other modes of transport.

For full details of what our hosts Littleborough CC have in store on the day click HERE.

Greenmount’s first eleven moved into fourth place in the Lancashire League Division Two table after picking up a 12-point victory over Accrington at Thorneyholme Road.

Skipper Travis Townsend won the toss and put the home side in to bat and they made a steady start putting on 52 for the first wicket when Mount pro Jacques Snyman bowled his opposite number in the Accy ranks Jacob Clarke.

With the score on 92, home captain Graeme Sneddon was next to fall when he was bowled by Ryan Senior.

Sneddon’s wicket was the signal for a collapse in the Accy batting order as 29 runs later they were all back in the shed.

Tom Heaton was executioner-in-chief with five wickets for 12 from seven overs. Senior added another victim while Callum Hunter took the remaining one.

Chasing a gettable 121 Greenmount were once again indebted to Snyman who top-scored with 62 (seven fours and one six) as they huffed and puffed their way to victory, losing seven wickets on the way.

Hunter steadied the ship with an unbeaten 16 and, along with Andy Kerr (11) was the only other batsman to reach double figures.

The win puts the Mount 20 points behind second-placed Crompton with three games remaining.

The club’s second string entertained Accrington’s twos at the Log Cabin and the visitors ran out winners by 96 runs.

Winning the toss and putting themselves in to bat, Accrington ran up 220 for 7 from their 40 overs, a total that proved to be well out of reach for the home side.

Gareth Williams rolled back the years with three wickets while there were two for Adam Clarke and one each for Ed Dickinson and Nigel Hallows.

The Greenmount  reply was soon in trouble with Henry Dickinson, Nigel Franklin, Paul Manley and Nigel Hallows all dismissed with only four on the scoreboard.

However, Tom Clarke (34), Leigh Dickinson (32) and Kieran Edwards (28) gave the total an air of respectability but they eventually succumbed to 124 all out in the 33^rd over.

The weekend began on Saturday with Mark Crowther’s all-conquering table-topping third team racking up another convincing victory at the Log Cabin.

Entertaining East Lancashire thirds, Crowther won the toss and elected to bat – a decision that proved to be spot-on.

The Mount scored 179 for 6 from their 40 overs with the highlight a fine unbeaten 73 from Tom Clarke. There were also useful contributions from Crowther (22) and young Noah Birtwistle (21).

The visitors never looked capable of anything approaching their target and were dismissed for 63 all out.

Noah Birtwistle took pride of place with the ball with a superb 6 for 11 off 7.5 overs while Ed Dickinson chipped in with 3 for 2 from two and Dexter Crowther took the remaining wicket in an economical spell that cost only 10 runs from five overs.

The thirds are now 23 points clear at the top of the Third Eleven Division Three table.

Mount’s first eleven got back to winning ways on Saturday when they crushed Great Harwood in fine style with a nine-wicket triumph at Cliffe Park.

Rain reduced the game to 47 overs and skipper Travis Townsend’s decision to field after winning the toss paid dividends as his side demolished the home team’s batting line-up, skittling them to 85 all out.

Great Harwood’s tormenters-in-chief were Callum Hunter (4 for 28) and professional Jacques Snyman who took a superb 4 for 11 from 5.2 overs. Evan Williams took the other two wickets.

The home side’s score proved totally inadequate as Mount knocked off what was required for the loss of only one wicket.

Snyman finished unbeaten on 58 (nine fours and one six) and put on a partnership of 75 with Andy Kerr (16 not out) following the dismissal of Evan Williams.

With four games remaining, the 12-point success elevates the club to fifth in the table on 121 points, 25 behind the promotion places and second-placed Church. Crompton lead the table on 147 points.

The second team took on Great Harwood’s twos at the Log Cabin and suffered a six-wicket reverse.

The visitors won the toss, decided to field and kept the Mount total to 118 for 6 as the game was rain delayed and reduced to 27 overs.

Stand-in skipper Jake Chadwick top scored for home side with 54 (two sixes and seven fours). He  was ably-assisted by Henry Dickinson who finished unbeaten on 39.

Nevertheless, the visitors were not to be denied and reached their target for the loss of four wickets in 24.4 overs.

The fourth team’s scheduled home game against Todmorden on Sunday fell foul of the weather.

The much-anticipated home clash against league leaders Church went ahead on Sunday but it was a black sabbath for the Mount whose lingering promotion hopes took a severe dent following a 112 run defeat.

Another wet week had put the match in doubt but a dry 18 hours prior to the game allowed the outfield to dry enough for it to go ahead.

However, it was the visitors that took full advantage with a comprehensive 12-point victory that keeps them riding high at the top of the Lancashire League Division Two table.

Church skipper Josh Scully won the toss, put his side in to bat and when opener Craig Fergusson was dismissed by a fine diving catch by Max Birtwistle off the bowling of Callum Hunter with the score on 12, it looked like the Mount had made a dream start.

But that wicket only brought visiting pro Asad Shafiq to the crease and his innings of 88 was the mainstay of the Church total of 245 for 6.

While the Pakistan international showed his undoubted class, he was indebted to a number of dropped catches in the Greenmount ranks on what proved to be a bad day at the office.

Mount’s target of 246 from 43 overs never looked on as wickets fell with alarming regularity.

Both openers Jacques Snyman and Evan Williams were dismissed before the 50-run mark and by the time skipper Travis Townsend – who top-scored with 29 – was back in the pavilion they were 114 for 5.

The last four wickets fell for only 12 runs as the reply petered out to 143 all out in 36.2 overs.

The result puts Mount in seventh position in the table, 28 points behind the promotion places with five games remaining.

The club’s second eleven made the reverse trip to Church and rounded off a day to forget with a nine wicket defeat.

Church put Greenmount in to bat and in a rain reduced 38 overs, the evergreen Nigel Franklin took pride of place with an unbeaten knock of 70 sharing a partnership of 83 with Matt Senior who put on 26 not out.

A total of 151 proved to be no problem at all for Church who reached their target for the loss of only one wicket in the 29^th over. Opener Ahmed led the way for the home side scoring 72 not out.

The third team’s scheduled game against Rawtenstall at the Log Cabin fell foul of the weather on Saturday.

Once again the weather conspired to frustrate the first team on Sunday when they travelled to Blackburn to face East Lancashire.

Skipper Travis Townsend won the toss and decided to put the Blackburn side in to bat, however, a sodden Alexandra Meadows outfield delayed the beginning of play and resulted in the game being reduced to 42 overs.

The home team accrued an eminently gettable 121 for 7 from their allotted overs which only served to make it an even more disappointing afternoon as further downpours denied the Mount a chance to chase their target down.

Professional Jacques Snyman and Evan Williams both took two wickets apiece while there was one each for Callum Hunter, Jack Thomond and captain Townsend who reach a milestone of 100 Lancashire League wickets with his lbw dismissal of Junaid Waris.

The five points taken from the game saw the Mount drop to fifth place in the Division Two table but with league leaders Church the visitors to the Log Cabin on Sunday they have a great chance to begin to close the gap on the top two sides in the promotion places.

Meanwhile, groom-to-be Oli Dixon’s second team went down to a rain-affected 14 run defeat when East Lancashire’s second string made the trip to Brandlesholme Road.

The visitors won the toss and elected to bat, running up a total of 191 all out in 39 overs.

Leading the way with the ball were Matthew Senior, Noah Birtwistle and Ed Dickinson who each helped themselves to three victims with Nigel Hallows taking the remaining one.

The tea break precipitation delayed the reply and meant that Mount faced a DLS-reduced target of 108 from 28 overs.

Frustratingly, it proved to be a bridge too far for the Greenmount lads who despite a valiant effort, weren’t helped by the retirement of the free-scoring Kieran Edwards who had to leave the fray with a back injury. Top scorers were Nigel Franklin (22) and Ed Dickinson (21 not out).

However, there’s just no stopping the third team who moved 35 points clear at the top of their table following a 39 victory over a strong Crompton third team at the Log Cabin on Saturday.

Skipper Mark Crowther won the toss and elected to bat and the Mount lads ran up 150 for 9 from their 40 overs.

Tom Clarke led the way with the bat, hitting an unbeaten 34,while there were also useful contributions from Max Birtwistle (27) and Ed Wackrill (23).

The visitors were put under pressure from the start and never looked likely to overhaul the Mount total. They eventually slumped to 111 all out.

Leading wicket taker on the day was Noah Birtwistle (3 for 24) with the two Eds – Wackrill (2 for 15) and Dickinson (2 for 16) – close behind. Sam Woolley took the remaining wicket.

So go on then, Barbie or Oppenheimer over a wet weekend?

The entire league programme was washed out leaving it very much “as we were” for the first team in fourth place with now just seven matches to play.

Has there ever been a summer like it? We have now seen five matches (four at home) completely washed out and just three where rain has not affected the game in some way.

There are now only three remaining home fixtures with a particularly big one looming against table topping Church on 6th August.

Before then, minds are focused on the weekend ahead with a trip to East Lancs, who are only four points behind us in fifth place.

It’s definitely still all to play for with just 25 points separating the top seven teams and 16 between us and a promotion spot.
We need a big final push for the last seven weeks of the season  and we have to rise above the weather and just focus on playing one match at a time – that’s a lot of cricket to play and there’s plenty of opportunities for us to go out and take.

Meanwhile, here’s a bit of an appeal to common sense please – we’ve started the week with the cancellation of tonight’s under 11 fixture – although it’s a dry day and for anyone scratching their head, be assured the ground is still wet through after 48 hours of continuous rain.

I know it looks fine from the road however on the ground it is extremely wet!!

Can we please ask for people to stay off the grass especially in front of the pavilion and anyone using the nets to walk around the boundary perimeter and not across the square.

It’s not a massive ask but it’s fair to say that ground care has been even more challenging than usual this season and everyone can help by respecting the playing area.

Thanks in advance for your help and support, fingers crossed for better weather this weekend!

If you are not glued to the Ashes or indeed at Emirates Old Trafford on Wednesday, why not pop down to the Mount for some junior cricket action!

We will be hosting a mini Roses encounter as currently unbeaten  Lancashire under-11 age group entertain East and Central Yorkshire in the first of a series of Roses games leading to a grande finale on 31st August at Rainford CC.

Harrison’s will be open serving breakfast and hot drinks from 9.30am to 12 noon and then burgers / snacks and sandwiches from 12.30pm through to close of play which will be around 5pm.

This will be a 40 over match and is scheduled to start at 11am weather permitting. It would be great to see some local support for county age group cricket.

You never know who may emerge from those on show in future years!

What a wet weekend – while southern Europe basks in extreme heat we’d be better off playing water polo!

Nevertheless, we didn’t need good weather for a memorable evening with the great Mark Taylor who took time out from his Sky commentary commitments to spend 24 hours with his favourite English club.

It was great to see some famous – or infamous? – faces return to the Mount , notably Mark Stewart, John Ashworth, Gary Chadwick, Darron Foy, Dave Jones, accompanied by our current fourth team captain Dave Mason.

Mark was on for a good 90 minutes and supplied the assembled audience with some great anecdotes and memories of 1988. Many thanks to Dave Mason for arranging an awesome weekend!

Mark stayed to watch the fourths on Saturday but after ten overs – during which I couldn’t possibly give Mr Mason out despite a voracious appeal – the heavens opened and that was that.

On to Sunday and more rain however the second eleven started on time and up at Colne the first team were reduced to a 42 overs match.

The seconds once again found their match abandoned due to heavy rain. The bigger issue is how we get the ground dry for next week!

There was another excellent 59 for Kieran Edwards, a gritty unbeaten 35 from Mark Crowther and a cameo 28 from just 31 balls from Oli Dixon in his new role as all rounder – he followed up with a miserly six overs for nine before the rain.

We are still bottom of the table but only nine points from eighth spot and the signs of a potential good run in are there!

Up at Colne the first team managed to complete a win which keeps us very much in the mix, lying in fourth place, 17 points behind second with Middleton at home next week assuming a real “24 pointer” significance, swiftly followed by Church at home on 6th August.

Travis won the toss and Colne were restricted to 158 from their 42 overs with Jacques Snyman bagging another four wickets supported by Evan Williams with two and one apiece for Callum and Tom.

The Greenmount reply was emphatic and clinical, racing to an adjusted target of 146 from just 22 overs and no loss.

Jacques dominated the innings with another fine unbeaten century – his fifth of the season – peppered with five sixes and 11 fours.

Evan continued to show his growing maturity with a fine supporting unbeaten 43 with seven fours and nobody else was needed this week!

A fine win against poor conditions and the threat of rain, plus a relief to get a game in with such localised heavy showers striking nearby.

We move in to Middleton at home – be there in your numbers and support the lads – however we’d just politely remind spectators to stop the practice of “shouting on” to the field especially towards umpire decisions.

The League take a very dim view of unruly crowd behaviour and this carries the risk of points deduction which would be criminal. So please keep it shut apart from encouraging the team!

Here’s an amazing unique view of Greenmount Cricket Club’s Brandlesholme Road ground thanks to our friends at Charles Louis Homes.

The local estate agents and letting agents have donated this superb drone video of the Log Cabin and ground in all its summer splendour – showing why it is one of the most picturesque cricket venues in the country.

Many thanks to James Birch and all at Charles Louis Homes for their kind gesture.

Estate Agents & Lettings Agents in Ramsbottom – Charles Louis Homes