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Dawson innings provides highlight

3/ 7/2008

WHAT a weekend! The weather didn’t help, as Friday night’s JW Lees Twenty20 match against Rochdale was washed out, but at least Bobby Cross called correctly and Heywood were credited with a victory.

Matters then went into a downward spiral – the first team lost by 20 runs at Littleborough, while the second team, hoping that the previous week’s Burton Cup victory over Unsworth was a sign that the tide was turning, were overwhelmed twice in succession.

They conceded 332 runs against Littleborough on Saturday, an all-time record for Crimble, as they sunk to a 90 run defeat, with one of the few highlights 92 from 14 year old Andy Dawson. They were then were rolled over for 42 runs as they lost by eight wickets to Middleton.

The first team’s miseries continued on Sunday as a combination of rain and the umpires conspired to prevent any play at Crimble against Middleton.

With some play being possible in every other first team fixture, apart from Pole Lane, Unsworth, it makes a mockery of the efforts made by the club, in terms of covers and sheeting, to get play under way.

Appreciating that player safety is important, the interests of fans, sponsors and the financial plight of clubs do need to be brought into the equation.

Sunday also brought the third round of the Barclays Wealth Lancashire Knockout, when the club was required to field a team’ against Winton, currently top of the Manchester Association.

After the rain reduced the match to 30 overs-a-side, Heywood took first knock, and after a slow start, Rick Purser, with 47, led the team to a competitive score of 123.

Unfortunately, some wayward bowling got Winton off to a flier, but when three catches went down in one Purser over, Heywood knew it wasn’t going to be their day as Winton got home with three overs to spare.

On Sunday, Heywood have the chance to exact some revenge for last week’s defeat as Littleborough visit Crimble in the second round of the JW Lees Wood Cup, in a match sponsored by local MP, Jim Dobbin.

On Saturday, the first team will be looking to get back to winning ways as they travel to Oldham in what is sure to be a testing fixture.

With places filling up fast, any youngsters who would like to participate in Ruvin Peiris’ Cricket Camp, in the week commencing 11 August, should ring 01706 361858 to reserve a place.