MAY 2011

29-5-11 - Both 1sts and seconds had resounding wins against Oldham and Ashton at the weekend as neither the weather nor the opposition could prevent a nineteen point haul.

The pro made up for his recent loss of form with the bat with an eleven wicket haul as the firsts restricted both sides to scores of less than a hundred. Oldham mustered just 83 on Saturday with Adam Holt seeing things through with another very promising knock after Griff had steamrollered his way to 41 in next to no time. Hendro picked up six on the day but had to share centre stage with Greg on Sunday as they grabbed five each with Ashton, who lost to Oldham last week, managing only 72.

The seconds had to settle for nine points after failing to prize out Ashton’s last man on Sunday despite a fantastic performance from Rob Meredith who took his personal best ever 7-14 off 15 overs. Ian Morris then chipped in with an unbeaten half century to add to last weeks century as they ran out six wicket winners. On Saturday the seconds managed a creditable 190-7 on a very tricky greentop at Oldham. The home side were then bundled out by a good all round bowling display which included three for Ian Davidson.

PICs Hendro celebrates his fifth of his six wicket haul on Saturday. Oldhams last wicket falls.

The thirds joined the party on Bank Holiday with a comprehensive 85 run win over Royton in a game restricted to 30 overs per side. The batting saw a number of players chip in with useful contributions which saw a total of 132-7 posted. Michael Ferry then dispelled any possible qualms about the total being too small by tearing through the Royton batting to take 6-18. Gareth Lloyd grabbed another three and Royton were all out for 47 having been 29-9 at one stage.

26-5-11 - Dean Morris and Sam Browns dedication to run-stopping ended in a broken elbow for Deano as the two collided going for the same ball in the midweek under 18 clash. Dean is likely to be out for six weeks.

24-5-11 - The committee have decided to tell Milindu Athuada that we will manage without him for this season as his recent visa problems continue to deny him access to Britain. Glenn Bullock does not want to disturb a settled squad and with June upon us it was decided to look at it again next season.

21511 It was a ding dong battle in the blustery gloom of Heywood on Saturday but the firsts showed the depth of reserves which we have seen developing over the past year or two.

Hendro bowled unchanged from the pavilion end as Heywood made a steady enough start to reach the fifty mark, But after Greg Jennings bowled danger man Bobby Cross, Hendro bowled four successive wicket maidens as the hosts crumbled to 74-7. That became 90-9 as Matt Wright grabbed a couple, but the last pair swung the game back a little more in Heywood’s favour as they took the score to 141 without being separated.

Andy Griff then smashed three fours in the first nine balls of the reply before going back to a ball that seemed to nip back and clip his off stump. Hendro and a very comfortable looking Adam Holt then picked off the runs at will and put the side in a seemingly unbeatable position with a fifty partnership before Adam played a lazy looking shot and was caught at slip for an excellent 32. Hendro then gave cover some catching practice as the spinners took a stranglehold on the game and with Chris Lord, Darren King and Ollie Dunn all going cheaply suddenly the home side were in total charge at 90-6. However, Greg J has shown some form with the bat this season and once Dean Morris got in on a tester of a wicket, the two started to accumulate and find the gaps. Gradually they chipped away and a good game of cricket ended in a six wicket win with two overs to spare, not to mention magic Mo still in reserve in the dressing room, itching to get to the crease having not being needed to bowl.

Ian Morris suffered one of the rarer experiences that anyone can have in cricket when he scored 113 not out and ended up on the losing side for the seconds. The wicket was in stark contrast to that at Heywood, described by the skipper as like concrete. When Mike Hay (53no) added his second half century of the season to help post a total of 230-3, the seconds should have had a defendable total despite the favourable batting conditions. However, it was not to be as the bowling, fielding and catching was a long way short of the usual standard and the visitors knocked off the runs with five balls to spare.

PICS: Matts appeal is unsuccessful.... Adam guides one through backward point for four...... Dean settles in.

The thirds let the side down on Sunday as the firsts and seconds both had comfortable wins in their respective cup competitions. Hendro held the reply together with a calm half century after Monton and Weaste had posted 168 with wickets shared; the innings coming to a close thanks to DFA Lords stunning catch on the boundary. Andy Griffiths contributed his usual high-boundary tariff in his 44 as the firsts ran out four wicket winners. Chris Thorpe (91) was agonisingly close to a third career century as the seconds dispatched Monton & Weaste at Manchester Road. Chris and Geoff Griff (45) put on 75 for the first wicket before the wickets tumbled and the innings closed on 198. Rob Meredith then bowled his spell with his usual meanness and picked up three wickets, but even so, the visitors came pretty close, finishing just ten short.

It was a ding dong at Greenmount where nine juniors took the stage along with Mark Unwin and Steve Ecc. The skippers plea to use up the overs was answered as 161-6 was posted with Andy Tocher (PIC) scoring a mature 41. The Greenmount reply swung this way and that with Mark Unwin grabbing 4-31, but in a frantic last over, the hosts grabbed a one wicket win with a ball to spare.

18-5-11 Skipper Glenn Bullock may have missed out on the victory against Heywood due to work commitments, but he didn’t miss much on the previous Wednesday as he rolled back the years and plundered an astonishing 211 runs playing for Lancashire against Cumbria in the over 50s county championship. Having got up at 5am to drive to Glasgow for a work related meeting, he arrived for the game minutes before the start to find that the usual opening bat (ironically former CCC player Tony Kelly) was unavailable, so Bully was asked to open up. An opening stand of 299 ensued with Glenn, remarkably, first man out. His 211 was scored in 181 balls and needless to say, Lancs won !!

14/5/11 - The Saturday weather spoiled what looked like being an intriguing contest in the blustery conditions at Manchester Road.

The firsts batted first and a good team performance posted a challenging 184-9 after losing the first three for 20. It could have been even better, but the momentum was lost by having to take an early tea with eleven overs remaining. No one batsman dominated but several made telling contributions but at the change round, after the lost overs had been calculated, Rochdale were set 130 to win in 30 overs which gave Bullys boys a mountain to climb.

Lady luck them kicked them when they were down as a succession of mis hit shots fell agonisingly into space and despite Hendro clattering the stumps on four occasions, the visitors eased past the revised total in the last over.

Danny Hill continued his own personal purple patch with an impressive six wicket haul as Rochdale seconds were bowled out for 68. Rob Meredith provided the perfect foil at the other end as he bowled a tight spell and picked up three wickets to boot. There was a minor struggle to get the runs, but Ollie Dunn steadied things with 27 not out and the seconds won by five wickets

PICS Bully hasn’t lost it has he ! – Hendro’s strike one

On Sunday both the firsts and the thirds progressed in their respective competitions despite a day of unremitting drizzle and rain.

Bowl outs became the only alternative as the wet stuff prevailed and the firsts provided the example for the thirds, despite watching opponents Cherry Tree hit the stumps on a consistent basis as they warmed up for the real thing in the Lancashire Knockout tie. However when it came to the crunch, the news filtering through to the thirds, who were just preparing for their own wet work-out against Prestwich, was of a comprehensive 1-4 win. The thirds made harder work of it, going to a sudden death situation after a 2-2 draw after all 11 had ploughed their way up to the wicket to launch a variety of deliveries. The cruelty of sudden death descended on Prestwich after three extra balls as the thirds earned 2^nd round tie at home to Rochdale. For the record, Dean Morris, Liam Dorsey, Matt Wright and Adam Holt hit for the firsts and Mark Unwin, Mike Ashmead and Steve Eccles for the thirds.

6/5/11 The firsts and seconds beat both Littleborough and the weather to pick up maximum points in the first of the weekends fixtures. The firsts won a twenty over match without the T20 rules as the weather intervened in the Pennines. Littleborough batted first and posted 138 with Hendro (3 for 59) and Greg (2-72) doing the bowling. The pro then continued his match-winning performance with 31 not out, but not before Griff had blitzed 61 to provide the platform for the win by 5 wickets.

The seconds had a belting win at Manchester Road as they won by eight wickets with Chris Thorpe contributing 45 and Phil Royle (with possibly illegal performance enhancing back supporting corset) 25 not out. Earlier, Danny Hill enhanced his growing reputation with five wickets as Littleborough could only manage a meagre 109.

On Sunday, despite a last wicket stand of 44, Cromptons 124 didnt ever seriously trouble the firsts who ran out comfortable 7 wicket winners to complete a great weekend. Greg Jennings (pic) was chief destroyer bowling uphill into a strong breeze which helped his movement of the ball and resulted in a five wicket haul for just 43 in 20 gruelling overs. With storm clouds threatening, Andy Griffiths then continued where he left off on Saturday by smashing 46 in 41 balls, perfectly accompanied by a composed 30 from Adam Holt and the opening partnership of 71 virtually sealed the game. Dean Morris then hit 22no off 21 balls to make sure the points came home.

Danny Hill had a smashing time up at Crompton as he blasted five sixes in his 48, (which could still be 50 as there appeared to be a score error ~ jury’s still out). His blows included a missile through the Crompton clubhouse window, but sadly it wasn’t enough as the early order had succumbed all too easily and Crompton’s 209 proved way out of reach.

More pics: Mo strikes Liam’s appeal is successful The strike attack heads for food Phil prepares the tea table Griff poses for the camera Adam cover drives for four so Dean does the same Danny’s window!!