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A double defeat for the first team at the weekend along with something of a trouncing for the seconds was tempered by a fabulous victory for the thirds at Brandlesholme Road on Saturday.

The firsts got proceedings underway on Friday evening when they faced Rochdale at the Log Cabin in their final game of the JWL MPA T20 competition.

Winning the toss and electing to bat the Mount put on 180 runs from their 20 overs, due in no small part to a superb 85 from Andy Kerr.

In the reply the visitors eventually surpassed that total but nevertheless it was something of a close run thing.

Jack Duffy hit 77 and Sean Whitehead 44 as the Lancashire League Division One side edged to victory with only four balls remaining.

Pride of place at the weekend certainly went to a youthful third eleven in their home clash against their counterparts from Church on Saturday.

After electing to bat, Church set a target of 151 from their 32.5 overs with leading wicket takers for Greenmount on the day, Luca Addleton and Sam Woolley, who each picked up three wickets.

Dawood Rahman top scored for Church with a good 60 before becoming an lbw victim to Max Birtwistle.

Despite resistance from Dave Willetts (30) and Steven Addleton (28) a  Greenmount victory looked to be a forlorn hope when the ninth wicket fell with the them still requiring 30 runs.

But a superb combination of controlled batting and cool heads from Luca Addleton (24) and Charlie Exton (13) saw their side home to the delight of a sizeable crowd who were on the edge of their seats.

It was a case of ‘least said soonest mended’ for the second team on Sunday when they made the trip to Dill Hall Lane to face Enfield.

They were all out for 66 in less than 20 overs with only Nigel Franklin (19), Jake Chadwick (10) and Oliver Dixon (10) reaching double figures.

Enfield made short work of the replay reaching their target for the loss of only one wicket in only 11.1 overs. Oliver Dixon claimed the only Enfield scalp when he trapped Anthony Steele (18) lbw.

Meanwhile at the Log Cabin the first team were involved in an entertaining high-scoring clash against Enfield that featured another great display from professional Chesney Hughes.

Batting first, the visitors were indebted to maiden Lancashire League centuries from South African professional Stuart Els (116) and Yasir Ali (101) as they posted a challenging total of 286 for 8. Hughes picked up four wickets for the Mount ending with figures of 4 for 63 from his 12.1 overs.

In reply the villagers made a decent fist of reaching that total thanks to 106 from 105 balls from paid man Hughes. Lewis Dove also hit 36 and Andy Kerr 26 but it was Hughes’ partnership of 117 with Callum Hunter (44) that gave the Log Cabin spectators hope of a second unexpected victory in 24 hours.

However, it wasn’t to be as the Greenmount innings came to an end when the pro was caught by Tiarnan Hamill off the bowling of Simon O’Loughlin 21 runs short.

Plans are well afoot for the return of our 2011 Treble Winners as we celebrate the 10^th anniversary of their fantastic achievement.  

The 2011 Treble Team will play in a T20 match against our current first team at the Log Cabin on Friday 30^th July, wickets pitched at 6pm.  

Full details can be found in the attached flyer and we will look to build up to the match with regular updates over the forthcoming weeks celebrating the amazing feats of the team that won the Bolton League, the Hamer Cup and, on a simply wonderful day at Old Trafford, the Lancashire Knockout, to become undisputed champions of the county. 

Please make a note of the date in your diary and we really look forward to seeing you at the celebrations as we welcome the Treble Winners back home. 

ROB KILVINGTON (GCC chairman)

Friday night’s T20 against Rochdale means that there is no Junior Practice. Junior Practice will return on Friday 3^rd July at 6pm.

The T20 against Rochdale officially starts at 6.15pm but if both teams are ready before then they do sometimes start five or ten minutes earlier.

Full details of the hospitality arrangements can be found in the following article: Spectator and hospitality plan for T20 clash.

Saturday sees the thirds entertain their counterparts from Church. Wickets are pitched at 1pm.

On Sunday the firsts entertain Enfield at the Log Cabin while the seconds make the reverse trip to Enfield. Wickets are pitched in both matches at 1pm.

Covid regulations remain in force which means that drinks can only be ordered from our waiting on staff and that all drinks must be consumed whilst sitting down.

Social distancing regulations apply  both inside and outside. Masks should be worn in the clubhouse when people are stood up although exemptions do apply.

Visitors are kindly requested to log onto the track and trace app or give their details to waiting on staff whilst track and trace details will be automatically collected for members when they order.

ROB KILVINGTON (GCC chairman)

This Friday (25th June) sees Greenmount welcome our T20 opponents from Rochdale to Brandlesholme Road.

The following describes the arrangements we have in place to make everyone’s stay at the Log Cabin as safe as it possibly can while you hopefully enjoy the cricket on offer.

Wickets are pitched at 6.15pm, although the umpires will make every effort to start a bit earlier if both teams are ready by 6pm.

Covid regulations still mean that all hospitality from the bar has to be ordered from our waiting on staff who will be circling the ground looking to take you orders.

Payment will be by card only. Greenmount CC members are asked to bring membership cards with them as these will be used for test and trace purposes.

All non-members will be asked to either log in via the Covid 19 QR code or on our own Test and Trace signing in sheet.

While our waiting on service has been very well received, we are conscious that for larger crowds we need to look to reduce waiting times for spectators sitting furthest away from the clubhouse.

To that end we are looking to station some of our waiting on staff at two “bottle storage points” around the ground where the waiting on staff will be able to pick up bottles of San Miguel, Corona & Peroni and get them to those customers furthest away much quicker than they would do were they required to return to the clubhouse.

Because the drink options will be limited (either San Miguel, Corona or Peroni) we will be offering them at a discounted price of two for £5. We hope the price discount helps overcome the impact of the significantly reduced choice and that customers will appreciate that is one way of trying to overcome the impact of the strict “waiting on” policy that the Covid regulations demand. Please bear with us while we look to continue to improve the service we are giving to you in these very difficult times.

We also need to remind spectators that Covid regulations require that everyone is sat down when ordering and drinking alcohol. We have significantly increased our seating capacity this year and continue to increase it, but spectators can help us in this by bringing their own camping chairs. We will have club officials around the ground reminding spectators of these regulations as well as the more usual social distancing requirements.

The waiting on and sitting down protocols apply when inside the clubhouse, as is the requirement to wear a mask when stood up inside, although exemptions do apply in relation the wearing of masks.

Our kitchen will be serving Carrs Pasties (meat and potato and cheese) as well as tea and coffee. As with the bar, payment by card will be required.

An entry charge of £2 for adults (senior citizens and children under 18 are free) will be taken within the ground, please look out for our club official who will be in evidence taking payment which will be in the form of cash.

Raffle tickets will be given to all people who pay the £2 fee, the draw for the raffle will take place in between innings.

I hope all the above helps set out how we are trying to make the Log Cabin as safe as possible for your visit to the T20. Your support in following the various Covid requirements / protocols would be very much appreciated. I hope everyone enjoys their stay.

ROB KILVINGTON (GCC chairman)

It proved to be an underwhelming weekend results-wise for Greenmount’s senior teams with three disappointing defeats to their name.

On Friday evening – due to a good number of cry-offs – it was something of a youthful first team that took to the field at Middleton in the JWL MPA T20 competition.

However, that didn’t stop professional Chesney Hughes from putting in a superb performance as he blasted an unbeaten 127 as the Mount posted a score of 177 for 6.

Despite the paid man’s heroics, it turned out to be an inadequate target as the Moonrakers’ decision to put Greenmount in to bat proved to be the correct one.

The home side reached their goal for the loss of only one wicket, with Grant Jones (31) the only man to fall when bowled by Andy McGuiness.

James Price (66) and Richard Fitton (58) saw Middleton home with a total of 178 and with 22 balls to spare.

On Saturday the firsts made the tough trip to Hare Hill to face league leaders Littleborough.

The Mount won the toss and elected to bat but were soon in trouble with both Chesney Hughes (12) and Andy Kerr (2) dismissed before the score had reached 20.

Sterling resistance from Tom Heaton, who hit 73, with notable contributions from Jack Harrison (28), Lewis Dove (19), Andy McGuinness (17) and skipper Ryan Senior (15) saw the villagers post a total of 184 all out.

Again, it was a score that proved insufficient as Littleborough showed just why they are the current table toppers.

Openers Zac Perren and former Greenmount professional Travis Townsend were straight into their stride and put on 117 for the first wicket before Perren (39) became the first of Chesney Hughes’ four victims on the day.

South African Townsend went on to score 74 and, aided by knocks of 30 from Tom Pye and an unbeaten 24 from Clinton Perren, the home side cruised to victory for the loss of four wickets and with an impressive 19 overs remaining.

Meanwhile, at Brandlesholme Road, the club’s second eleven went down to a five wicket defeat at the hands of their Littleborough counterparts.

Wickets fell steadily throughout the Greenmount innings with only skipper Alex Bullen (24), Matthew Senior (23) and wicketkeeper Jake Chadwick (21) reaching double figures.

Their total of 108 all out was always going to be a difficult one to defend and so it proved.

With the visitors on 50 for 4 there seemed to be a chink of light for the Mount but a steady knock of 41 from opener Louis Russell and 18 not out from Chris Dearden saw the Hare Hill side home for the loss of five wickets.

Bullen added four wickets to his day’s top score in the Greenmount innings, but his side paid the ultimate price for their off day with the bat.

Junior practice returns to the Log Cabin tonight (Friday, 18th June), meanwhile, our T20 team are playing away at Middleton, wickets pitched at 6.15pm.

The club will be open for the England v Scotland match but please remember that due to Covid regulations we have significantly reduced capacity inside so can only hold 25 in both the Members’ Bar and Pool Room and 50 in the Function Room.

If we reach capacity I’m afraid we won’t be able to let anyone in.

Saturday sees the first eleven travel to league leaders Littleborough while the seconds host their counterparts at the Log Cabin. Wickets are pitched in both matches at 1pm.

Finally I’ve already touched on Covid regulations in relation to capacity inside the clubhouse, but can I also remind you that masks need to be worn inside and table service is required for the purchase of alcohol inside, as it is outside.

Please also remember that you need to remain seated when drinking outside so that unfortunately means no walking around with alcohol either inside or outside.

We have increased our seating capacity significantly since the start of the season so this shouldn’t cause an issue if you are outside and you are welcome to bring your own camping chairs along to increase that seating capacity further.

ROB KILVINGTON (GCC chairman)

Greenmount Cricket Club’s Dan Stevens has been selected in a squad of 14 for Scotland Under-19s. 

Dan will join up with his Scottish teammates for two fifty-over matches against Northumberland next week (Tuesday and Wednesday). 

It’s a fabulous achievement for Dan and everyone at Greenmount wishes him well as he embarks on his international career.