There will be no cricket for the club’s senior teams this weekend as a Covid outbreak in the first eleven has meant all three teams fixtures have had to be cancelled as per league rules.
Hopefully normal service will be resumed next weekend (14th and 15th August).
Also, due to the incessant rain on the pitch (and the promise of more to come) tonight’s (Friday) Junior Practice has had to be postponed.
There is still availability for three more teams when Greenmount Cricket Club hold their Golf Day on Friday, 13th August at Walmersley Golf Club.
Cost of a team of four is just £120 which includes a full 18 hole round; breakfast sandwich and drink pre-round; a number of prizes for winning score, longest drive, closest to the pin etc, with tee-times from 11am to 1pm.
Closing date to sign up and pay is Monday, 9th August and a signing on sheet can be found in the Log Cabin members’ bar.
For further details contact Jack Harrison on 07402 085585.
Greenmount’s first eleven leapfrogged Church & Oswaldtwistle into the Lancashire League Division Two promotion places with a fine seven wicket victory at West End on Sunday.
The home side won the toss and elected to bat but a combination of tight bowling, sharp fielding and some superb catching put them under severe pressure from the start.
The pick of the dismissals was a superb one-handed effort on the boundary by Kieran Edwards off the bowling of Andy McGuinness that sent Church’s Indian professional Sagar Trivedi back to the shed.
Trivedi’s knock of 19 proved to be the best the home side could muster as their first six batsmen were dismissed with the score on only 55.
That their later willow wielders went on to double that total could be said to be something of a minor success but it was never going to be enough against a Greenmount side in a rich vein of form.
The Mount reply didn’t get off to the best of starts when Jack Harrison (7) was adjudged to have been caught behind early in the innings, but after Andy Kerr (8) was dismissed with the score on 36, Chesney Hughes took over with a real professional’s knock, smashing three fours and three sixes as his 43 took the reply on to 82.
From then on, a steady innings of 32 from Tom Heaton saw the lads home with Evan Williams (8) the other not out batsman.
Meanwhile, at the Log Cabin, the seconds enjoyed a 26 run victory against their Church counterparts.
Openers Jake Chadwick and Dan Stevens (both 42) put on 88 for the first wicket to get the ball rolling while there were useful knocks for Brad Edge (26), Ben Hornsby (21) and Sam Greenhalgh (21) as the Mount finished 241 all out in 44.1 overs.
The Church replay fell short despite 63 from Barry Shorrock and 68 from opener Nathaniel Young who batted through the innings.
Both Ryan Edge and Oliver Dixon took two wickets with one apiece for Alex Bullen and Matthew Senior.
On Saturday the third eleven were in action at Todmorden but suffered a 46 run defeat.
Todmorden won the toss and chose to bat then set a total of 192 for 6 with Jack Atherton hitting 76 and Evie Priestley finishing unbeaten on 60.
It proved too much for the thirds who were dismissed for 146 with only Harry Fines (37), Stuart Leach (21), Adam Clarke (19) and Nigel Franklin (16) making it to double figures.
In a change to the existing Covid regulations at the Log Cabin we will not be offering the waiting on service from Monday to Thursday while the club is comparatively quiet, however, it will return on Friday, Saturday and Sunday when we are traditionally busier.
All other Covid related protocols remain unchanged but we will continue to monitor the situation
Having had a couple of weeks since we re-opened fully on 19th July we still think that most of the measures we re-opened with are still appropriate.
The only change we will be making from Monday 2nd August is teh change to the waiting on service . All other protocols remain unchanged, ie
· As staff will continue to be the main movers between rooms within the clubhouse and to add a further element of protection for both bar staff and customers when customers are being served at the bar, staff will continue to wear masks when inside the clubhouse.
· While we cannot mandate it, it would be very much appreciated if members and visitors could continue to wear masks when moving around the clubhouse.
· We will continue to supply a waiting on service on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday when the club is traditionally busier than other days as we are not only aware that members and visitors have really liked this service, but some aren’t yet ready to go back to queuing at the bar for drinks when the clubhouse is busy.
· Whilst we will continue to supply a waiting on service, we will allow members and visitors to queue at the bar for drinks. It would be very much appreciated if masks were worn when queuing at the bar. We do request however that having bought drinks at the bar, members and visitors then drink away from the bar. Once again we feel it is a bit too early to go back to the days of people drinking at the bar, either whilst seated or standing.
· The bars will have space set aside for waiting on staff to work from, alongside space for those members / visitors who wish to order from the bar themselves.
· Hand sanitising units will remain on the walls within the clubhouse with dispensers remaining on the tables and we urge our staff, members and visitors to keep on making use of these; I think such units are probably here to stay and welcome their continued use.
· The restrictions that have been in place in relation to toilets will no longer apply but please just be sensible in relation to numbers actually within the toilets.
· Opening hours remain unchanged, ie
o 4pm to 11.30pm (last orders at 11pm) Monday to Friday
o Midday to 11.30pm (last orders at 11pm) Saturday
o Midday to 11.00pm (last orders at 10.30pm) Sunday
· Monday to Thursday we will serve from the Members’ Bar and have the Members’ Bar / Pool Room open. We will only open the Function Room if required as an overflow.
· Friday to Sunday we will have the function room open as well and have both bars open.
If everyone is careful and respectful of our staff, fellow members and visitors to the club then I’m sure that we will all be able to enjoy the rest of the summer and the freedoms that the vaccine roll out have afforded us. We will continue to review the above protocols and procedures that we have in place.
ROB KILVINGTON (GCC chairman)
After the monsoons of the last few days – and with more rain forecast for tomorrow – we have taken the decision to postpone tomorrow’s T20 match celebrating the 10th anniversary of the club’s 2011 treble winners.
We will look to reschedule the game before the end of the season, but the ground unfortunately won’t be fit for a match evening. That means that there will still be no Junior Practice.
We will provide an update on the revised date just as soon as we are able to agree one as we would still very much like to celebrate what was a fantastic season in the club’s history.
ROB KILVINGTON (GCC chairman)
All the club’s three senior teams were victorious over the weekend with some high scoring for the first and seconds on Saturday.
Ryan Senior’s first eleven took on Rawtenstall at the Log Cabin and, having won the toss, the visitors elected to field. It was a decision they probably regretted when the Mount ran up 326 for 5 from their 50 overs.
In the runs were Evan Williams (89), Tom Heaton (86) while Andy Kerr hit 60 before becoming Keith Roscoe’s 1,811th Lancashire League victim – equalling the league record.
Rawtenstall’s reply was meagre in the extreme and thanks in no small part to Kieran Edwards’ 4 for 7 haul the Valley side were skittled all out for 41 in the 21st over.
With Haslingden defeating last week’s leaders Church, the win keeps the Mount hot on the heels of the leading two and they are now only four points behind Hassy who have now taken over top spot.
Meanwhile at Rawtenstall the second team enjoyed a run fest of their own racking up 352 for 5.
Leading the way with the bat was Jake Chadwick who – for the second time this season – unluckily fell just short of his ton with 97.
Following on from his international appearances with Scotland U-19s, Dan Stevens cracked 85 while there was 60 from Sam Greenhalgh and 44 from Brad Edge.
The home side were then dismissed for 198 with Ryan Edge taking the bowling plaudits with 5 for 48.
The thirds provided the entertainment at the Log Cabin on Sunday and to make it a hat-trick of successes they saw off their counterparts from Rishton.
Batting first, Rishton were dismissed for 148 all out with young Charlie Exton leading the way with the ball with figures of 3 for 24.
That total was never going to be enough once Nigel Franklin and Brad Edge took to the crease and they scored 59 and 57 respectively as the Mount passed their target for the loss of six wickets.
THE COMING WEEKEND
There is no cricket at the Log Cabin on Saturday but the third team will be in action at Todmorden. WP 1pm.
On Sunday the firsts travel to Blackburn Road, Oswaldtwistle to take on Church in a crucial promotion clash. The seconds, meanwhile, take on Church II at the Log Cabin. WP for both games 1pm.
Friday evening’s scheduled T20 game against the 2011 treble-winning team has had to be postponed because of the inclement weather. The game will hopefully be rescheduled before the end of the season.
There are two home games for Greenmount this weekend when, hopefully, the recent upturn in weather will continue.
The first eleven entertain Rawtenstall tomorrow (Saturday, July 24) while the seconds travel to take on Rawtenstall’s seconds at the Worswick Memorial Ground, Bacup Road.
Meanwhile, the club’s third team are in action at the Log Cabin on Sunday (July 25) when they face Rishton III. WP for all three games is 1pm.
The weekend’s activities begin with Junior Practice tonight (Friday), starting at 6pm.
Updated Covid 19 procedures following Monday’s loosening of national restrictions can be found HERE.
Greenmount first teamers Evan Williams and Dan Stevens, started playing together for the club in the Under 9’s when they were seven years old.
They hold the distinction of being two of only a handful of players, who have played for every Greenmount team from the under 9’s through to the first team.
In their time playing together, they have also turned out for the various Bury District age groups and also the Lancashire junior age group teams.
Last September, Dan joined Evan at Sedbergh School, where they have opened the batting for the school first team and recently played at the national schools finals day at Arundel, where – on that occasion – they unfortunately fell short at the semi-final stage.
On Wednesday (July 23), for a change, they found themselves on opposing teams at Netherfield Cricket Club, when Evan was playing for Cumbria County Development team and Dan was representing Scotland Under 19’s.
However, on this occasion, Evan took the bragging rights, scoring a superb 152 and leading Cumbria to a 91-run victory.
Interestingly, it was virtually six years to the day since the first time Evan scored 150 playing for Bury district in the county quarter final, on that occasion he put on 343 with another Greenmount first team youngster who has come up through the age group teams and county junior teams, Callum Hunter.
Coincidentally, Evan and Callum will be representing Lancashire League Under-21s against an MCC XI at Middleton CC’s Towncroft ground tomorrow (Friday, July 23). WP at 11.30am.
Former Greenmount pace man and club legend Mark Stewart has been inducted into the prestigious Wisden’s Club Cricket Hall of Fame.
Stewie – and his local cricket career – have been profiled by journalist Scott Oliver in the cricket bible’s monthly magazine.
All at the Log Cabin are thrilled that he has been recognised in this way and look forward to welcoming him back for the club’s upcoming T20 game when the current Greenmount team take on the 2011 Treble winning side that Mark played a big part in.
The T20 clash will be held on the evening of Friday, July 30, WP 6pm.
Read Scott Oliver’s Wisden article HERE.
Greenmount edged closer to the Lancashire League Division Two promotion places on Sunday when they secured a two-wicket victory over Haslingden in fiercely contested clash at Bentgate.
With the scorching sun blazing down it wasn’t the day to lose a toss, but unluckily, lose it Ryan Senior did and the Mount were left to toil in the heat for almost 50 overs – that said – the Greenmount skipper would have the last laugh.
The home side ran up 194 all out just one ball short of their 50 overs, due in no small measure to sub-professional Mini Bhada from Feniscowles CC who hit 56 and Leighton Friend who scored 48.
Evan Williams (3 for 37) was the pick of the Greenmount bowlers, while there were two wickets for Keiran Edwards and one apiece for professional Chesney Hughes, Lewis Dove and Callum Hunter.
In reply, Hughes and Andy Kerr were dismissed early without reaching double figures, both getting unlucky lbw decisions, the first two of five in the Greenmount innings, on a day in which there were nine such dismissals throughout the match.
At 55 for 4, following the dismissal of Jack Harrison (33), the clever money was on the home side to emerge victorious but a fine knock from Tom Heaton who hit 61 before being ‘caught’ and a real captain’s innings from Senior who finished on 32 not out, saw the Mount home for the loss of eight wickets in a tense finale.
There were also useful scores of 28 from Dove and 12 from Mattie Donnelly as the lads crept closer to their target.
The win keeps Greenmount third on 105 points, four behind Haslingden (109) in second place, while Church remain current leaders on 118.
Meanwhile, the second string enjoyed a runfest at the Log Cabin when their counterparts from Middleton were the opposition.
The Mount ran out victors by 165 runs, leading the way was Brad Edge who fell unluckily just short of a ton with 97 while there were also valuable knocks from Matthew Senior (38), Jake Chadwick (37) and Chris Sherrington who hit 34.
The home total of 305 for 8 was always going to be a bridge too far for Middleton who lost wickets steadily throughout their innings before succumbing at 140 all out in 28.1 overs.
All six of the Greenmount bowlers helped themselves to wickets with the day’s leading scalp-taker Oliver Dixon with 3 for 32.
NEXT WEEKEND
Greenmount’s first eleven are at home to Rawtenstall next Saturday (July 24) while the seconds travel to take on Rawtenstall’s seconds at the Worswick Memorial Ground.
The club’s third team are in action at the Log Cabin on Sunday (July 25) when they face Rishton III. WP for all three games is 1pm.
