Cricket: Old(er) and young shine for Heywood Seconds and Thirds

Heywood Cricket Club

Heywood Cricket Club’s second and third teams made it a 100% successful weekend for the club.

The Second XI scored a 117-run victory over their Woodhouses counterparts to stay top of Division Four East, with three successive league victories adding to last week’s Cup triumph over Clifton.

The Third XI saw off Brooksbottom by 80 runs in their opening Sunday game at Crimble.

The second team rattled up 208 at Woodhouses after an opening stand of 70 between Dominic Fawcett, 38, and Jacob Kaye 20.

Further contributions of 45 by Chris Booth, 23 from Steve Evans and 16 by captain Mikey Grogan carried on the momentum and the total looked a good one to defend.

So it proved as Woodhouses, after their opening stand of 42, collapsed to 91 all out in the face of Heywood’s spin attack. Chris Kaye claimed 4-30, Lee Clarkson 3-19 and Grogan 2-0.

The third team also batted first against Brooksbottom and rattled up 163-9 thanks to 38 not out by captain Roger Smethurst and 26 from Joey O’Neill.

Two of the club’s young young protégés also distinguished themselves in their first senior match. Tom Sullivan batting at number six made 19 and Joe Carter vitally occupied the crease for some time at number nine to end up with a score of nine.

Then it was the Rick Purser show as Brooksbottom were bundled out for 83. Purser claimed 5-14 in eight overs, another youngster, Luke Jackso,n claimed 2-22 and Carter made it a personal day to remember with a wicket bowling leg spin.