On Air Now Martin Emery 11:00am - 3:00pm
Now Playing Chesney Hawkes The One And Only

Weekend Review: Greater Manchester Cricket League

For the third weekend in a row, rain hit the Greater Manchester Cricket League programme significantly.

Through all 11 divisions, featuring 65 matches, only 6 reached a conclusion. There were two of those locally, both in Division 1, which saw Dukinfield beat SW Manchester, and leapfrog Mottram at the top whilst at the other end Denton lost to Milnrow and must now fear relegation. 

The season is reaching a conclusion and locally Denton SL will be hoping for a slip up from Prestwich in their hunt for the Premier title. Denton West’s promption was confirmed, and it is looking likely that, with a decent set of results, Dukinfield, Mottram and Ashton Ladysmith will be more than hopeful of promotion from their respective Divisions. 

Premier 1: 

Only one game reached a conclusion and this after Flixton were dismissed for 91 by Egerton, who romped home by 9 wickets and put any relegation fears behind them. There was play at Clifton and Prestwich but rain on the west of Manchester in the early afternoon led to abandonments. So, with three weekends to go it is Prestwich who head the table by 9 points although second placed Denton SL do have a game in hand. It promises to be a tight race but DSL have to rely on Prestwich slipping up. At the bottom the three relegation places are falling between Astley & Tyldesley; Flixton; Greenfield and Glodwick although from this point it looks to be a only slim chance that the latter two will beat the drop. 

Flixton 91ao Egerton 95-1; Clifton 77-2 Moorside dnb (aban); Prestwich dnb Glodwick 81-4 (aban): Denton SL A-A Greenfield; Roe Green A-A Heyside; Woodbank A-A Astley & Tyldesley; 

 

Premier 2: 

Denton West secured promotion as games elsewhere fell victim to the weather meaning that 4th placed Bury can no longer overtake them. They still remain favourites for the title with 2nd placed Edgworth 7 points adrift. Locally both Flowery Field and Glossop saw some limited action. Flowery were well placed at 104-3, (Keegan Taylor 49*), when the rain arrived, and Glossop, visiting Walshaw, had reduced the hosts to 83-9, (Will Hargreaves 6-12). However, both clubs require a good finish to the season to beat the relegation threat. With Monton and Royton already doomed, only 5 points separate Glossop, (3rd bottom), and Stand, (6th). This weekends games will be crucial as Flowery visit Monton and Glossop host Woodhouses. 

Edgworth 84-2 beat Monton 99ao (DLS); Woodhouses 78-5 Bradshaw dnb (aban); Walshaw 83-9 Glossop dnb (aban); Royton N/A Denton West; Stand A-A Bury; Flowery Field 104-3 Heywood dnb (aban) 

 

Championship: 

The schedule on Saturday was decimated, but there were important wins for both Edenfield and Whalley Range which gave them both hope of beating the drop. Edenfield have had a remakable resurgence. After looking certainties for the drop for the majority of the season 4 wins in the last 6 games have given them a fighting chance of staying up. These results were not good news for Stayley whose game against Elton failed to start, and it now looks aas though they need a 100% record from the last three games to avaoid relegation. This Saturday the face Edenfield in what is a crucial fixture. Uppermill’s defeat at Heaton on Sunday leaves them all but gone. 

Westleigh A-A Winton; Brooksbottom 84-2 Uppermill dnb (aban); Stayley A-A Elton; Swinton Moorside 127ao lost to Edenfield 105-5 (DLS); Whalley Range 161-5 Friarmere 160-6; Shaw dnb Heaton 25-2 (aban); Sunday: Heaton 145-0 Uppermill 141-8 

 

Division 1: 

In the only two games which saw a ball bowled there were crucial results affecting both the top and bottom of the table. Dukinfield, after their cup final disappointment the previous week, hosted SW Manchester who crawled to a very modest 112ao in 40 overs. Neil Mistry, (4-29), and Denuwan Dadellage, (4-33) came into the attack after the opening bowlers had really put the shackles on the visitors and their efforts gave Dukinfield a great chance of putting pressure on Mottram, whose game was called off. After a long rain break the DLS calculation set Dukinfield 67 to win in 20 overs. They got home for the loss of 4 wickets, using only 15 of those. The winning points took Dukinfield to the head of the table, level on points with Mottram, but with more wins to their name. The title will be decided between the two over the next three weeks with the third promotion place between Stretford and Thornham. 

It was a heartbreaking afternoon for Denton. Desperate for points in the their fight against the drop they entertained rock bottom Milnrow, and after a rain delayed start they posted 234-5. Usman Malik led the way with 47 and the innings was given real impetus by Alex Beeley, (64*), and Shazaib Mazhar, (44). More rain arrived and after play could resume Milnrow were set 189 for the win. Denton were in the driving seat as they reduced the Ladyhouse team to 2-2, but an outstanding knock of 103* from Adam Yates took the visitors to the win inside 26 overs. The loss left Denton in 2nd bottom spot and thee are 9 points adrift of safety and will have to show good form in the remaining games. They are without a fixture this weekend, and will be keeping a keen eye on results elsewhere. 

Dukinfield 67-4 beat SW Manchester 112ao (DLS); Adlington A-A Mottram; Thornham A-A Prestwich 2nd XI; Golborne A-A Stretford; Oldham A-A Droylsden; Denton 234-5 lost to Milnrow 189-5 (DLS); Hadfield SA A-A Austerlands 

 

Division 2A: 

 

Radcliffe A-A Roe Green 2nd XI; Elton 2nd XI N/A Stand 2nd XI; Worsley N/A Deane & Derby; Irlam A-A Daisy Hill; East Lancs PM A-A Tottington SJ 

 

Division 2B: 

Only one game saw any action and it featured Micklehurst who visited Denton West. The Richmond Hill team batted first, and were dismissed for 148. Skipper Jonny Forrester, opened the innings and batted throughout to finish on 54*. Rain as the West reply was due to start precluded any further play. 

With Covid related postponements earlier in the season this Division will be settled on the basis of averge points per game. Saddleworth, (on 4.50ppg), are looking likely to claim the single promotion place and can secure this with 2 wins from their last three games. Werneth will be hoping they slip up and if they gain 3 wins and Saddleworth lose twice the Coppice club will top the table come the end of the season. 

At the other end, with 4 clubs being relegated, Springhead; Ashton and Whalley Range look set for the drop with the final place likely to be between Wythenshawe and Glossop 2nd XI. 

Denton West 2nd XI dnb Micklehurst 148ao (aban); Glossop 2nd XI A-A Whalley Range 2nd XI; Werneth A-A Saddleworth; Glodwick 2nd XI A-A Denton SL 2nd XI; Ashton A-A Wythenshawe; Springhead A-A Littleborough Lakeside 

 

Division 3E: 

Moorside 2nd XI A-A Werneth 2nd XI; Mottram 2nd XI A-A Oldham 2nd XI; Greenfield 2nd XI A-A Hadfield SA 2nd XI; Heywood 2nd XI A-A Newton Heath; Friends United A-A Flowery Field 2nd Xi; Friarmere 2nd XI A-A Dukinfield 2nd XI 

 

Division 4E: 

With leaders Woodhouses getting underway but then abandoned Ashton Ladysmith were hoping for a result from their game at Failsworth Macedonia in order to close the gap in the title race. They dismissed Macedonia for 184, (Saeed Nazeer 4-60), but with thier reply standing at 43-3 the elements had the final say. This Division is also being decided on average points per game and it is looking likely that Woodhouses and Ladysmith will take the two promotion places. 

Blackley A-A Stayley 2nd XI; Saddleworth 2nd XI A-A Ashton 2nd XI; Droylsden 2nd XI dnb Woodhouses 2nd XI 143-4 (aban); Austerlands 2nd XI A-A Springhead 2nd XI; Failsworth Macedonia 184ao Ashton Ladysmith 43-3 (aban) 

Sunday 

2nd XI Championship Cup Final: Heyside 96-6 Shaw 92ao 

 

*** 

This week's fixtures 

Premier 1: Astley & Tyldesley v Clifton; Moorside v Roe Green; Heyside v Flixton; Egerton v Denton SL; Greenfield v Prestwich; Glodwick v Woodbank 

Premier 2: Bury v Royton; Denton West v Walshaw; Glossop v Woodhouses; Bradshaw v Edgworth; Monton v Flowery Field; Heywood v Stand 

Championship: Friarmere v Swinton Moorside; Edenfield v Stayley; Elton v Brooksbottom; Uppermill v Westleigh; Winton v Shaw; Heaton v Whalley Range 

Division 1: Austerlands v Oldham; Stretford v Thornham; Droylsden v Milnrow; SW Manchester v Dukinfield; Prestwich 2nd XI v Hadfield SA 

Division 2A: Tottington SJ v Irlam; Daisy Hill v Worsley; Deane & Derby v Elton 2nd XI; Stand 2nd XI v Radcliffe; Hindley SP v East Lancs PM 

Division 2B: Wyhtrenshawe v Glodwick 2nd XI; Denton SL 2nd Xi v Werneth; Saddleworth v Glossop 2nd XI; Whalley Raneg 2nd XI v Denton West 2nd XI; Micklehurst v Springhead; Littleborough Lakeside v Ashton 

Division 3E: Flowery Field 2nd XI v Heywood 2nd XI; Newton Heath v Greenfield 2nd XI; Hadfield SA 2nd XI v Mottram 2nd XI; Oldham 2nd XI v Moorside 2nd XI; Werneth 2nd XI v Friarmere 2nd XI; Dukinfield 2nd XI v Friends United 

Division 4E: Springhead 2nd XI v Denton 2nd XI; Woodhouses 2nd XI v Saddleworth 2nd XI; Ashton 2nd XI v Blackley; Stayley 2nd XI v Failsworth Macedonia; Ashton Ladysmith v Austerlands

More from Sport

Weather

  • Fri

    12°C

  • Sat

    13°C

  • Sun

    14°C

  • Mon

    10°C