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To celebrate the forthcoming Ashes test matches Greenmount CC are hosting two T20 matches between the club and a touring Australian team from the Shaun Brown Cricket Coaching Academy coached by the famous ex test star Merv Hughes.

We are delighted that Merv has agreed to spend an hour at the club following the day’s cricket to share anecdotes from his illustrious career.

There will also be an auction for a number of exciting and unique prizes. Admission to this part of the day will be by ticket only and we will be communicating how to get tickets on a first come first served basis on Monday. So watch this space and be quick on the draw so as not to miss out!

Greenmount Under-13s crashed out of the Lancashire Junior League cup semi-final at Rochdale on Friday evening, putting paid to their unbeaten start to the season in rather ignominious fashion.

Batting first against two good county age group spinners, the Mount were undone for a paltry 68 of which only Ben Clarke with 30 applied himself to the task.

In truth the batting display was woeful and a long way from the earlier part of the week when the same team hit 200 and 181. Haroon Kashmiri bowled superbly for Rochdale and richly deserved the scalps of three of his county colleagues.

The Greenmount bowling display was equally poor and the game finished with Tom Gilbertson and the excellent Kashmiri knocking off the runs against a series of poor balls for no loss.

It was a very disappointing end to an exciting cup campaign but it must be said Rochdale, who have a very good team, thoroughly deserved to win and demonstrated all the necessary qualities to compete. It’s to be hoped that plenty of valuable lessons were learned individually and collectively.

However, some of these lads get immediate opportunity to bounce back as our Under-15 team will play in the final of their Age Group cup next Thursday, 25th May at home against Clitheroe.

Make it an early start to the weekend and come along to cheer the team on !

With the first team also at home next Friday 26th for the start of the T20 tournament it promises to be an exciting week of cricket at the Mount!

Greenmount Under-15s stormed into the final of the Lancashire League Junior Cup last night (Tuesday) with an emphatic win at Lowerhouse.

The lads will meet either Clitheroe or Longridge next week, date and venue to be finalised.

Batting first they had to overcome a tough start losing Max Birtwistle and Rupert Hallows cheaply, however Ed Dickinson continued his recent run of form with an excellent unbeaten fifty which was the cornerstone of the innings.

Ed Wackrill demonstrated his batting capability once again with a useful 20 and the innings was finished off with a breezy 14 not out from Noah Birtwistle.

In truth, Lowerhouse were blown away at the start of their reply by excellent quick bowling from Max and Ed, from which they never recovered.

Once again the wily leg spin of Ewan Malone and accurate off-spin of Ed Dickinson and Noah kept things tight in the middle overs, Ewan finishing with 2-10 from his three overs.

Meanwhile the under 13s face a challenging semi final away at Rochdale this Friday having marched through the quarter final against Great Harwood on Monday.

The Mount lads played an aggressive and entertaining brand of cricket smashing their way to an uninhibited 200 from their 20 overs, Rupert Hallows setting the tone and matched by captain Noah Birtwistle, Ben Clarke and Ed Wackrill, all retiring on 30 made in entertaining and swashbuckling fashion.

The Great Harwood reply offered some resistance but the game was won by 101 runs with some good bowling from the Greenmount younger lads James Herbert and Jake Riley who looked very comfortable playing in a higher age group.  

For those of you who want to see more of the junior journey why not have a peek at our Instagram page HERE where you will see snippets of action from the lads.

Thanks to Nigel Hallows for creating a fantastic record of memories so far this season, it has been a welcome change from the gloomy rain affected weekends!

The weekend began on sunny Saturday where you would have been forgiven for thinking summer had arrived – but by Sunday evening the shorts had been swapped for jeans and the first team match ended in gloomy and wet conditions – normal service resumed.

Saturday saw a welcome return to cricket at the Mount when a Fourth Development team took on a similar outfit from Todmorden.

Led by Greenmount legend Dave Mason, the development team is all about offering senior experience to young players, interspersed with a few `wise` heads to offer a guiding hand.

The result was secondary – although we did actually win. Nevertheless, the match was played in excellent spirit and saw some fine individual performances from both sets of young players.

Dave Mason graced us with an elegant 32 before graciously retiring to allow the younger lads centre stage – this was well received by Sam Woolley who plundered a superb unbeaten 77 in response before going on to take 3-10 in a man-of-the-match performance.

Bowling was equally good with a particularly good spell from 12-year-old George Kenyon on senior debut whilst Ben Clarke impressed once again alongside a much improved Dexter Crowther. A good time was genuinely had by a decent crowd.

Earlier, Tom Clarke was unlucky to miss out on a first senior 50, caught for 46 whilst Ed Wackrill bothered the sheep a couple of times on his way to an unbeaten 30.

On to Sunday, and the first team hosted high-flying East Lancashire who are showing strong early season form.

Batting first, Tom Heaton and Evan Williams made a confident and solid start before Tom was caught at the third attempt from a skier.

This brought Andy Kerr to the wicket and he soon hit his stride with some sumptuous strokes for four to bring up his first half century of the season.

Evan also reached his 50 and at 123-1 and a partnership of 90 it was once again a surprise to lose Andy LBW just as he was in full swing.

At this point the crowd may have anticipated a firework show from Jacques Snyman but much to everyone`s disappointment – aside from a jubilant East Lancs team – he attempted to launch the ball into space and after a lengthy descent thit was caught by the keeper.

Travis Townsend grittily attempted to bring the momentum back alongside Evan however East Lancs bowled tightly and with discipline, taking wickets at vital moments with Evan falling for 69 (10 fours and two sixes) and Travis for 32 (4 fours and a six).

With 10 overs to go the score was feeling behind where we had expected. Dan Stevens came in and demonstrated intent with a trademark six over extra cover but it was left to Ryan Senior once again to bring the innings home with some positive momentum, blazing an unbeaten 33 from 20 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes to close the innings on 239-6.

Ryan has still not been dismissed this season.

East Lancs started their reply with intent , Callum Hunter had the first wicket well held at slip by Snyman before frustratingly rain arrived, shorts were discarded for anything dry and warm and we played the hokey cokey with the covers while the rain couldn`t quite decide whether to stop or keep going!

DLS is beyond everyone`s understanding but an adjusted target was set for East Lancs from 17 overs and they set about it in a very methodical and calm manner with Joe Bolton (51), professional Zahid Mansoor (32) and Niall Boyle unbeaten on 60 doing the hard yards.

Matthew Senior bowled encouragingly well on return from injury with 1-23 whilst Evan Williams picked up 1-40 with an excellent catch from Travis in the murky outfield.

The game went to the last over and was keenly fought yet we only achieved a single bonus point for a close game – another anomaly in the weird experience that is DLS. Oh for a weekend with no rain or messing about with covers and sheets!

Meanwhile the other gripe of the season to date is getting reliable updates from Play Cricket – this was certainly the case as Oliver Dixon`s second team won by 13 runs in a close game away at East Lancs.

Batting first Greenmount made 17, the highlights being a fine 41 from Nige Franklin and a well compiled knock of what appears to be anything from 32 to 38 from young Rupert Hallows, although updates of the match vary!

We definitely bowled them out for 160 and there were wickets for Richard Catterall , (how good to see him running in once again after injury), Ollie Dixon and Ryan Edge.

This was a timely boost to morale for the seconds and it was great to see some solid senior player performances to assist the younger players. Let’s hope we can now build some positive momentum and harness the returning experience with some of the great performances from our younger players going forward.

And whisper it – the forecast for the weekend ahead looks good!

The Under-13 junior cup quarter-final with Great Harwood was abandoned with no play possible due to persistent heavy rain.

It has been rearranged for the coming Monday evening (15th May) at the Mount, start time 6pm.

Meanwhile, our Under-15 team has progressed to their age group semi-finals with an away tie at Lowerhouse on Tuesday 16th May.

The club’s Under-15s comprehensively defeated both Norden and Ramsbottom away from home this week with excellent team performances.

Of course there were some notable individual contributions and highlights in both games, including a fine 50 from Edward Dickinson and a swashbuckling partnership between Tom and Ben Clarke scoring 28 each.

The bowling has been very strong all-round with everyone weighing in, once again Ben Clarke has been a menace to the opposition and Ewan Malone picked up impressive figures at Ramsbottom.

Good luck to both age group teams next week!

Over the last six months three cricket-mad lads from Greenmount CC have been plying their skills in indoor cricket… Certainly a very healthy pursuit in those dark winter months.

In fact they’ve become quite good at the game and have now found themselves bound for the United Arab Emirates!

Following a rigorous selection process, all three have been chosen to represent Action Indoor Cricket England in the Junior World Series in Dubai this September.

Congratulations go to Ed Dickinson (Under-15), Eduardo Wackrill and Rupert Hallows (Under-13) on this splendid achievement.

All three boys are always around the club practising or playing and will feature in senior teams throughout the summer.

Eduardo and Rupert are also two of our five Lancashire county age group players so you will see plenty of these lads over the years to come.

Well done lads! Have a fantastic experience, enjoy every minute and represent the club with pride!

Greenmount Under 13s face Great Harwood at the Mount this Thursday (11th May) starting at 6pm.

The lads have made an impressive start to the season winning all four matches convincingly .

Great Harwood will pose the next challenge so if you fancy an evening of cricket please come down and support the boys in this quarter final cup clash.

Harrison’s will be serving food so why not make an evening of it with a couple of cheeky pre weekend drinks as well!

As the Coronation and its promise of another extended weekend approached, there was more speculation about the prospect of two successive games for the first weekend of a very damp early May.

For anyone unfortunate enough to have been at Norden on Thursday night for the under-15 cup fixture, the conditions swung from Baltic to Arctic with high winds and freezing rain – only eased mildly by a fine entertaining unbeaten 50 by 11-year-old Rupert Hallows and some lusty hitting from Ed Dickinson.

But surprisingly both first and second team Worsley cup fixtures with Church started on time.

The first team lost the toss and Church chose to bat. Jacques Snyman made his long-awaited home debut and Jack Thomond also made his first home appearance while there was also a home debut for 15-year-old county age group player Max Birtwistle.

In an innings which ebbed and flowed as both sides battled for momentum, it was Church who emerged in the ascendancy thanks in main to an excellent innings of 135 not out from Kelan Florentine who plundered eight sixes and eleven fours.

Skipper Josh Scully compiled a good 40 before being caught and bowled by Evan Williams who finished with 3-49 while Jack Thomond took 2-53 on debut.

Greenmount needed a good start however Florentine put paid to that with the early wickets of Williams, Tom Heaton and Andy Kerr to have the Mount against the ropes on 18-3.

The stage was set for professional Snyman to repeat the pyrotechnics from Crompton in partnership with Travis Townsend but just as the South African duo looked set to consolidate they were both removed by sub pro Gohar.

This brought Dan Stevens and Ryan Senior together for a rearguard stand of 87 which most unfortunately was halted by bad weather just as they had arrested momentum from Church and were looking likely to turn things round.

Stevens launched three sixes in an over and despatched Gohar for a fourth to reach his 50 as the rain came – once the players resumed the match fizzled out to another unsatisfactory DLS fuelled end with Ryan Senior unbeaten on 35 and Stevens bizarrely given out from the last ball for a fine 60.

Turning attention to league duty on Sunday it was critical to actually complete a match as the team travelled to Middleton with the previous three all washed out.

Travis won the toss and chose to bowl first and this time the Mount bowlers hit their stride very quickly with Callum Hunter firing out three early victims including the dangerous James Price who scored a fine century against us last season.

Middleton continued to lose wickets at regular intervals as Jacques Snyman bagged 4-44 and Travis Townsend 2-15. Hunter finished with 3-12 and Sammy Greenhalgh took a hat trick of catches as the opposition fell for 97 from 30 overs.

The Greenmount reply started very positively and at 35-0 it seemed like a routine stroll before a mix up saw Tom Heaton run out for four, with Evan Williams then bowled for eleven to make it 35-2.

Wickets continued to fall with Townsend the victim of another strange decision but leaving the innings finely balanced at 66-4.

Andy Kerr and Dan Stevens then steadied the ship somewhat with a partnership of 24 before both fell to Dale Highton for 24 and 16 respectively, leaving just four runs to win but still leaving time for another wicket to fall leaving the margin of victory less than would have originally been expected.

We were also grateful for the penalty runs conceded by Middleton but in truth should not have needed them – however how many times have we seen low scoring games play out in this way, one of the vagaries of the game, the key point is we have registered the first win and 12 points takes us up to fourth place with a LOT of cricket to play.

The second team cup match with Church on Saturday saw a very youthful side lose at Church but only after a positive bowling performance which included a great start to senior cricket for Ben Clarke who bowled 10 overs for just 23 runs.

There were wickets for older brother Adam, Ollie Dixon, Ed Dickinson and Rupert Hallows. Unfortunately the Greenmount batting response was a collective horror show resulting in being bowled out for just 53 – only Mark Crowther with 17 and Rupert Hallows (15) registered double figures.

On Sunday the seconds hosted Middleton with a more experienced line up including Andy Bowker Nigel Hallows and Danny Hornby.

Middleton compiled 236-8 which unfortunately was bolstered by 40 extras, Rupert Hallows bagging 3-44 and Danny Hornby 2-52.

Once again the batting reply never quite fired with several batters reaching double figures only to not kick on. It was left to a tail end flurry from the returning Richard Catterall with a typically breezy unbeaten 21 including three fours and a six while young Ed Wackrill – on his second team debut – supported nicely with 13 not out and two fours.

The second team are in a lowly position after the first four weeks however not helped by lack of consistent availability of more established senior players, whilst this situation remains it will mean more opportunity for our young players but will equally offer them a very steep learning curve!

We are extremely proud that the junior section at Greenmount Cricket Club has proved to be as popular as ever with incredible numbers of children being signed up to learn how to play the game.

However, in order to maintain a safe and fun environment we need to halt new sign ups while we assess the number of children we have and ensure we adhere to the correct number of coach to children ratios.

For any questions please contact Junior Chairman Leigh Dickinson via gccupdates@gmail.com

The club will collate a list of potential new members and try its best to accommodate – while requesting patience as we go through the process.

Professional Jacques Snyman lit up a largely dull and damp day at Crompton with a sparkling 96 on his debut, but the Mount endured a frustrating post-tea session as the game was eventually called with the home side somewhat adrift of the adjusted target .

Snyman struck six sixes and seven fours in a 54 ball knock of awesome power which is hopefully the prelude of entertainment to come.

It was the highlight of an all round excellent team performance with the bat. Put in to bat doubtless with a nod to the weather, Tom Heaton and Evan Williams started confidently and quickly.

New dad Tom being especially quick to punish any loose bowling and he celebrated the first half century of the season with two sixes and five fours.

After Tom fell for 53 Andy Kerr and Williams continued to build an imposing score and it was a surprise when Kerr departed for 23 just one short of another 50 partnership.

Celebration for Crompton was short lived as Snyman took centre-stage and quickly asserted a turbo drive to proceedings.

Meanwhile Evan completed an assured stand of 58 before exiting with 60 to bring new skipper Travis Townsend to the wicket. The South African duo added a very entertaining 80 before Townsend was dismissed for a breezy 23.

Snyman departed just one run later for an excellent 96 and it was a real shame such a debut performance fell just four runs short of a wonderful century.

With eight overs to go Greenmount had already compiled 262 for 5 and were far from finished as Dan Stevens and Ryan Senior completed yet another 50 partnership in the last eight overs.

Stevens finished with a busy 24 not out from just 18 balls while Senior hit an unbeaten 28 from 26 balls including one six. An excellent all round team batting effort.

Unfortunately at this point the weather decided to come to Crompton’s mercy and after a two- hour delay the mysteries of the Duckworth Lewis Stern method declared a target of 173 from 20 overs.

The game was eventually abandoned after eleven overs with Callum Hunter and Evan Williams taking a wicket apiece whilst Jacques offered a glimpse of his outstanding fielding ability with an excellent catch and run out.

It was a disappointing damp squib end to a sparkling performance laced with fine highlights, two games, two wins for the weather.

It’s a long season which isn’t decided by the end of April – we go again next Sunday at home to Colne.

Thanks go to the travelling support who braved the cold to get behind the team.

Match abandoned: 5 points. Greenmount 316 for 5 (50 overs ) Crompton 77 for 3 (11 overs )

Meanwhile the seconds lost at home to Crompton in another game affected by weather and DLS.

Greenmount scored 163 for 6 with Jake Chadwick hitting a typically belligerent 33. There was a useful contribution of 26 from Andy Bowker and only a glimpse of entertainment from Kieran Edwards who was rather unfortunately given out when threatening to dominate.

The highlight of the innings was a patient and well compiled debut knock of 55 from 15-year-old George Mills who dug in and worked very hard for his runs.

The Crompton reply was led by the experienced John Punchard who finished unbeaten on 61 against a largely young Greenmount attack for whom Luca Addleton and Ewan Malone took the wickets to fall.

Saturday’s third team home match against Nelson was postponed due to an unfit ground.