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It was a grim weekend results-wise for Greenmount’s first and second teams who both suffered double defeats including disappointing losses in the Lancashire League’s knockout competitions.

On Saturday, in the league, the first eleven entertained a strong Norden team who boasted former Log Cabin professional Ash Zaidi in their ranks.

The Rochdale club restricted the Mount to 163 all out, a total that would have looked far worse without Andy Kerr’s good innings of 81.

That target was never going to be enough to deter  the visitors who cruised to a seven-wicket  victory inside 28 overs for the loss of only three wickets.

Opener Josh Tolley top-scored for Norden with an unbeaten 69.

The second team made the trip to Great Harwood and went down to a 44 run defeat.

Batting first, the home side posted a total of 210 for 7 from their 45 overs with Muhammad Shakeel and Christian Oddie both hitting half centuries.

For Greenmount, Ryan Edge took 4 for 72 from 12 while Max Birtwistle took 2 for 51 from 8 and skipper Ollie Dixon 1 for 31 from 12.

The writing looked on the wall when openers Kieran Edwards and Leigh Dickinson were both back in the pavilion with ducks but sterling work from Jay Ahmed (63) and Danny Creer (43) steadied the ship somewhat.

Nevertheless, it was never going to be enough to pass the home side’s total and they fell well short on 166 for 7 at stumps.

The much-anticipated return of local rivals Ramsbottom to the Log Cabin following the Mount’s league victory over them two weeks earlier was a massive disappointment as the firsts were given a hiding  and bowed out of the Worsley Cup competition at the first hurdle.

Although skipper Ryan Senior again won the toss and elected to bat, there was to be no repeat of the previous encounter when the villagers ran up a total of 287.

Indeed, as middle order wickets fell with alarming regularity, it appeared as if Mount might struggle to reach 100 and it took a superb last wicket partnership of 47 between Sam Greenhalgh (28 not out) and Matthew Senior (15 not out) to give the score a more respectable appearance.

The Rams’ sub-professional Samit Patel took three wickets while there was a brace for both skipper Kieren Grimshaw and Joshua Dentith.

Some early wickets were imperative for the Mount and although Alex Olpin was dismissed with the score on 13 and Patel followed him on 52 the visitors were comfortably in control of the result.

Jonathan Dack (44) and then Grimshaw (51 not out) were the pick of the Rams batsmen as they eased  to a six-wicket victory inside 26 overs.

Meanwhile,down at Acre Bottom in the corredponding  Junior League Knockout Trophy clash, Rammy made it a satisfying double when they saw off Mount’s second eleven in a five-wicket triumph.

Greenmount won the toss and skipper Ollie Dixon elected to bat and his side ran up a total of 200 all out from 47 overs.

Andy Bowker rolled back the years with a great knock of 67 ably assisted by Kieran Edwards (60) but there was little in the way of run-scoring support from the rest of the team with no-one else breaking the double figure barrier.

With the home side 116 for 5, the Mount may have had thoughts of reaching the second round but Rammy judged their winning response to perfection and unbeaten knocks from Brad Wilson (56) and Ryan Storey (31) saw them home with five balls to spare.

IT was a classic case of ‘After The Lord Mayor’s Show’ for Greenmount’s first eleven on Sunday as they followed up their convincing derby victory over Ramsbottom last week with a heavy seven-wicket defeat at the hands of Walsden at Scott Street.

Any visiting supporters hoping to see further green shoots of progress following the opening day defeat at champions Burnley, would have been better occupied strolling around Gordon Riggs’ Garden Centre across the road as the Mount got another lesson in just how strong the top sides are in the Lancashire League Division One.

Skipper Ryan Senior won the toss and chose to bat with openers Jack Harrison and professional Chesney Hughes putting on 27 for the first wicket.

But then there followed a steady collapse as 27 for 1 became 78 all out with Andy Kerr top-scoring on 14 and Harrison and Hughes both hitting 13.

Joe Gale was the pick of the home side’s bowling with 5 for 20 from 15 overs while Jamie Shackleton had four victims for 48 in 13 overs.

In reply, Walsden’s sub-professional Chrag Khurana was dismissed for a duck, bowled by Callum Hunter but it proved to be a false dawn and the batting strength of siblings Josh and Joe Gale (both unbeaten on 34 and 18 respectively) ultimately paid off and they passed the Greenmount total after 18 overs.

Meanwhile, at the Log Cabin, the second eleven enjoyed a six-wicket victory when Accrington seconds were the visitors.

Accrington won the toss and chose to bat, putting on 194 for 9 from their 45 overs and aided by some profligate bowling from the Mount who gifted them 41 extras.

Patrick Kilvington picked up four wickets for 47 from 12 while Rick Catterall took 3 for 49 from 9 and skipper Oliver Dixon took 2 for 42 from 14 overs.

Greenmount’s winning reply owed a lot to Andy McGuinness’s unbeaten 69 and he was ably assisted by Kilvington’s 63 as the visitors’ total was knocked off for four wickets in 42.3 overs.

The club’s third team got the weekend off to a start on Saturday when they travelled to take on early league leaders Colne thirds only to narrowly lose by four runs.

After winning the toss Colne chose to bat and posted a total of 207 for 8 from their 14 overs.

There were two wickets apiece for the returning Rory Daveridge, Euan Malone and Adam Clarke while the evergreen Gareth Williams and Matthew Gilmore took one each.

Opening for the Mount were fourteen-year-old Edward Dickinson and his Under-15 coach Nigel Franklin who put on a partnership of 78 before Dickinson was bowled for 32.

Franklin went on to score 71 and with Daveridge hitting 56 there was a nail-biting finish with 11 needed off the final two overs.

After Daveridge’s demise, Tom Clarke joined Euan Malone with ten needed from the final over.

Clarke hit a four but, unfortunately with four needed from the final two balls he was then bowled while trying to hit another decisive boundary.

At the Log Cabin on Bank Holiday Monday, the thirds went down to a 20 run defeat at the hands of Todmorden thirds.

Tod elected to bat after winning the toss and were bowled out for 105 in 35.3 overs with Euan Malone (3 for 13 from 8 overs), Luca Addleton (3 for 26 from 7), Ryan Edge (2 for 22), Adam Clarke (1 for 15) and Steven Addleton (1 for 21) among the wickets.

Despite a 25 from Steven Addleton, only David Willetts (12) and Adam Clarke (10) made it to double figures as the Mount slumped to 85 all out.

Greenmount got a morale-boosting first victory of the Lancashire League Division One campaign when they comprehensively defeated near neighbours Ramsbottom by 147 runs at a packed Brandlesholme Road ground on Sunday.

Following the opening day defeat at champions Burnley the previous week, skipper Ryan Senior was delighted to win the toss and elected to bat on what was a superb batting wicket.

The villagers took full advantage to run up a challenging total of 287 for 7 with Andy Kerr (63), Lewis Dove (60 not out) and professional Chesney Hughes 51 leading the way with further useful contributions from opener Jack Harrison (36) and Evan Williams (34). Daniel Pyke was the pick of the Ramsbottom bowlers with 4 for 72 from his 13 overs.

In reply, the Rams failed to step up to the plate as despite openers Jonny Dack and Alex Olpin putting on 40 in the first seven overs, there was a steady fall of wickets as they slumped to 140 all out in 33.2 overs.

Hughes took five wickets – a league best for the paid man – while Dove’s off spin proved to be a thorn in the Rams side as he helped himself to 3 for 46. Callum Hunter grabbed the other two victims with 2 for 29 from 6.2 overs.

Meanwhile, the second eleven also enjoyed a great victory – by 65 runs – when they made the trip to Nelson.

Oliver Dixon’s decision to bat after winning the toss proved to be the correct one as his men put on 226 for 6 from their 45 overs.

Father and son combination Henry and Leigh Dickinson top scored with 50 and an unbeaten 49 respectively, while 38 apiece for opener Jake Chadwick and Andy McGuinness helped post a total that was always going to be too much for the home side who finished on 161 all out from 39.4 overs.

Skipper Dixon took 5 for 66 from 12 overs, Rick Catterall helped himself to 3 for 27 from 7.4 and there was a wicket each for Matthew Senior and Alex Bullen.

On Saturday, at the Log Cabin, the club’s third team were involved in a cracking high-scoring game when Norden thirds were the visitors.

Norden won the toss and decided to bat. They then put on 248 for 6 from their 40 overs courtesy of a fine unbeaten 102 from Mohammed Omar and 92 from Mohammed Munawar who looked destined to get a ton himself before being run out by Mount skipper Mark Crowther. At one stage in the reply the villagers looked likely to fall woefully short of that total but a fine 76 from Steven Addleton and contributions from Wes Young (46), Crowther (37) and Dave Willetts (33) kept them in the hunt only to fall a tantalising 13 runs of what was required at 235 for 9 at the end of their allotted overs.

Greenmount first eleven got their inaugural taste of life in the Lancashire League top flight on Sunday when they went down by 67 runs at champions Burnley on the opening day of the 2022 campaign.

Some great work in the field – and four wickets from Lewis Dove – restricted the home side to 193 for 5 from their 50 overs after Ryan Senior won the toss and elected to put Burnley in to bat.

Leading the way for the Turf Moor side was South African professional Ockert Erasmus who smashed an unbeaten 76 while Qasim Shah chipped in with 34.

In reply the villagers made a steady start with pro Chesney Hughes and fellow opener Jack Harrison putting on 58 before Harrison was caught-bowled by Erasmus.

There followed a steady fall of wickets as the Mount’s hope of a morale-boosting win at the home of the champions became a forlorn one.

The spin combination of Erasmus and Bharat Tripathi proved to be the difference with only Andy Kerr (11), Dove (17) and Andy McGuinness (11 not out) joining the openers on double figures.

While an opening day defeat – and no points to show for their efforts – isn’t the greatest start, there was plenty to encourage in the display against a team that will no doubt be there or thereabouts when the trophies are handed out at the end of summer.

Meanwhile, at the Log Cabin, the club’s second eleven took on Littleborough seconds in the sunshine.

However, it was a disappointing result for Oliver Dixon’s side as they lost by 63 runs.

Littleborough won the toss and elected to bat and thanks to a great knock of 86 from Shazan Reeza, ran up a total of 161 all out from 37.2 overs.

It was looking good for the Mount as Alex Bullen blasted a quickfire 22 including two sixes, while Patrick Kilvington and Matthew Senior hit 25 apiece. But 85 for 3 quickly became 94 for 9 then 98 all out with skipper Dixon unbeaten on six.

It wasn’t all doom and gloom though as Mark Crowther’s third team picked up a 74 run victory up the valley at Rawtenstall.

The home side’s decision to put Greenmount in proved to be a mistake as the villagers put on 173 in 35.2 overs.

That score owed a lot to evergreen opener Nigel Franklin who hit a fine 89 which included eight fours and three sixes, while debutant Wes Young scored a useful 40.

The Mount total proved insurmountable for the Rawtenstall side who were dismissed for 99 with pride of place going to youngster Eaun Malone who took a superb 4 for 3 from 4.4 overs to show great promise for the future.

Sam Woolley and Steven Addleton added two wickets each with the remaining one falling to Matthew Gilmore.

A heads up on what members have to look forward to this week and the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, which looks like being fine and relatively warm.

Good Friday

Both bars will be open from 12 noon and Danny will be serving breakfast as normal from 10am to 12.30pm. His regular menu will not be available thereafter BUT from 2pm until 8.30pm he is doing a BBQ on the veranda which, among other items, will include delicious food such as burgers, hot dogs, chicken fillet burgers, roasted new potatoes, chips, garlic bread and veggie options. 

On Saturday, and Sunday, Danny will be back serving his normal menu all day from 10am 

Cricket

The Lancashire League starts this weekend!

On Saturday the 3rds travel to Rawtenstall and on Sunday the 1sts travel to current league champions Burnley while the 2nds play at home to Littleborough. All games start at 12.30pm and any support would be greatly appreciated.

Sport on TV

Tuesday –  8pm, Real Madrid v Chelsea

Wednesday – 8pm, Atletico Madrid v Man City & Liverpool v Benfica

Thursday – Lyon v West Ham

Saturday – 12.30pm Tottenham v Brighton 

            3.30 pm Man City v Liverpool FA Cup

Sunday – 2.15pm Newcastle  v Leicester

      4.30pm Chelsea v Crystal Palace FA Cup 

Looking ahead, the club will be showing the pay per view fight between Tyson Fury v Dillian Whyte on Sat 23rd April.

Thank you for your continued support

Senior outdoor cricket training will begin from Thursday, April 7th at 6pm. From the following week, training will be every Tuesday – again with a 6pm start – and any senior (or junior wishing to play senior cricket this year) should attend.

Junior outdoor cricket nets will begin on Friday, April 22nd.

Initial timings will be: Under-9 and Under-11 from 6pm to 6.45pm.

Under-13 and Under-15 from 6.45pm to 7.30pm. The timings will stretch as it becomes lighter and warmer into the summer.

There will also be a junior membership signing-on night at the club on Friday, April 8th from 6pm.

For any players and members available, this weekend there will be working parties on the ground from 1pm on Friday, April 1st, Saturday, April 2nd and Sunday, April 3rd.

Any help will be greatly appreciated as the cricket committee aim to get the ground in tip-top condition ahead of the first games on April 9th and April 10th.

Greenmount Cricket Club has a new chairman. Andy Skinner is taking over the reins from Rob Kilvington after he resigned from the club’s board at Sunday’s AGM at the Log Cabin.

After three years in the hot seat, Rob feels it is time to stand down due to increased work commitments. He has presided over an eventful period in the club’s history with the complicated Covid regulations to contend with as well as overseeing the club’s successful application to join the Lancashire League.

Having made his first team debut at 14 in the 1970s Andy has played a number of positions at the club over the years including first team captain. He is keeping on his role as groundsman.

Speaking after the meeting Andy said: “Everyone at the club would like to thank Rob for the hard work he has put in during his stewardship.

“It’s hard to think of a time when the club has been as popular as it is now and memberships are rising incredibly.

“I hope to continue where Rob left off, carrying on his good work. We will continue to be forward-looking both in the clubhouse, with exciting plans for the future, and, just as importantly, on the field of play which is the reason the club is in existence.

“We are on the brink of our first season in the top division of the Lancashire League and we are looking forward to the challenge.”

Rob will still be seen around the club and will continue coaching with the All Stars junior set-up as well as overseeing the successful 100 Club.

Also leaving the board with Rob are Ben Hornsby, Roger Parker, Gill Senior and Pam Willetts. The club would also like to thank each of them for their work over the years.

That leaves a somewhat slimmed down board with Secretary Leigh Dickinson, Treasurer Heather Murphy, Dave Dawson and Adam Suthers supporting Andy.

Greenmount’s Max Birtwistle has been rewarded for his superb 2021 summer season with a call up for the Lancashire Under-14 squad.

The Year Nine St Gabriels High School pupil, played his first season at senior level, competing in the third team before stepping up to the seconds.

His performances with the ball saw him win a hat-trick of accolades taking the Under-13, Under-18 and third team player of the season awards.

His ability did not go unnoticed at representative level either where he represented the Lancashire League Interleague side and, following a five-week trial, he can look forward to representing the county this summer.

Would you be interested in sponsoring a player at Greenmount Cricket Club?

The club are actively seeking companies or individuals to get behind them in their first campaign in the prestigious Lancashire League Division One by becoming kit sponsors for individual players for the summer.

For an outlay of £150 sponsors will get:

Their company or personal name associated with their chosen player for the 2022 campaign.

Social media presence via the club’s Twitter and Facebook accounts as well as the official club website.

An invitation to a sponsors day at a fixture during the season.

The chance to support a local amateur cricketer at their local sports club.

The cost of £150 provides a kit bundle for the player as well as providing additional funds for the club.

Anyone interested should contact Leigh Dickinson on gccupdates@gmail.com or ask at the club for further details.

Alternatively a Player Sponsor Form can be downloaded HERE.