Don’t panic – ‘Dad’s Army’ to the rescue at Heywood Cricket Club

Heywood Cricket Club’s very own Dad’s Army came to the rescue at the weekend – and earned the admiration of Crimble supporters.

With Heywood facing the unpalatable prospect of having to concede a second team game for the second successive weekend, a group of former players – some ageing, some retired and some aiming to retire – rallied round to make sure that the home fixture against Greenmount went ahead.

They included: Vinny Ball, whose last competitive match was some five years ago; former first skipper Mark Wright, who turns out sparingly in emergences; Rob Slawson, who retired from cricket a couple of years ago; and Dave Cross, who last played for the first team around a decade ago.

Add to those another ex-first team captain David Fare, also an occasional emergency standby, and Rick Purser – who has been trying to retire – and they made up more than half the team.

All this in a side led by regular captain Chris Kaye, now aged 47.

The ground crew again worked wonders to get the match on, albeit with a late start and a reduction to 35 overs per side.

Heywood were 83-6 with almost 10 overs left when the rain had its say for the last time.

The commitment of former players not wanting to see the name of the club besmirched was a credit to them and an example to all.

Heywood Seconds

T Blundell b Crawford 8
V Ball lbw b Hickson 12
R Smethurst run out 9
M Wright c Hornsby b Crawford 3
R Slawson c Hornsby b Williams 9
C Kaye not out 10
J Mills lbw b Williams 0
D Fare not out 0
Did not bat: C Hilton, D Cross, R Purser.
Extras 23
Total (for 6 wkts, 25.1 overs) 83
Bowling: C Crawford 11-0-27-2, L Hickson 11-1-26-1, G Williams 2-0-13-2, J Seddon 1.1-0-4-0

The first team game at Greenmount was abandoned in mid-afternoon as the weather prevented any play in a game vital to both sides at the bottom end of the Premier League.