A WASHOUT at Egerton followed by a comprehensive defeat at home to Glossop has consigned Heywood to relegation in the inaugural season of the Greater Manchester Premier League.
There was never any chance of action at Egerton on a monsoon Saturday, and play the next day was only able to get under way after more sterling efforts by the Crimble ground crew and volunteers.
The game eventually started 90 minutes late and was curtailed to 37-overs-per-side. And Heywood were well beaten by 49 runs by a Glossop team that respected the home side’s eagerness to play and never tried to duck the issue.
Heywood did not really do themselves justice, both in the field and with the bat, but can justifiably point to one of the main causes all season of their downfall – the inability to field their preferred strongest side.
Glossop rattled up 169-7, a score that would have been challenging from a full 50 overs never mind 13 less!
Opener Dale Pennington got them off to a lively start with an fervent 43, and substitute professional Jordan Clark – the Lancashire all-rounder – weighed in with a half century against a depleted Heywood attack that saw Bobby Cross turn his arm over for the first time this season.
The locals made a promising reply, with openers Cross and Jayden Borg looking capable of making sizeable contributions.
But both perished to Clark trying to stay positive, Cross mistiming an onside clip but only succeeding in floating a catch to mid-on and Borg skying a return catch to the bowler when trying to pull a short ball.
From then on it was left to professional Danny Pawson to attempt a rescue act, and he responded bravely.
Yet there was little support at the other end despite cameos by Jack Morley, and the Dawson brothers, Andy and Simon.
And when Pawson eventually went for 47 as the run rate started to spiral out of control, there was no escape route left for Heywood and the innings petered out.
So Heywood are left with a final Premier home game against Flixton on Saturday (12.30pm) and to anticipate more pastures anew in Division One in 2017.
GLOSSOP
D Pennington c S Dawson b Pawson 43
O Kenyon c Mason b Morley 22
J Clark c Grogan b S Dawson 50
J Moss c Pawson b S Dawson 43
M Sanczak b Pawson 0
G Dyson st Borg b Pawson 2
D Senior c Morley b S Dawson 2
W Hargreaves not out 3
Extras 5
Total (for 7 wkts, 37 overs) 169
Fall of wickets: 1-64, 2-68, 3-143, 4-150, 5-155, 6-163, 7-179
Bowling: S Dawson 11-0-54-3, J Morley 11-1-33-1, R Cross 4-0-20-0, D Pawson 11-0-60-3
HEYWOOD
R Cross c Kells b Clark 9
J Borg c and b Clark 22
D Pawson c Stopford b Clark 47
L Mason c Stopford b Kenyon 0
J Morley c Stopford b Kenyon 11
S Burrill c Stopford b Hunt 0
A Dawson c Clark b Sanczak 9
S Dawson c Moss b Sanczak 10
M Grogan b Clark 0
M Witts c Hunt b Sanczak 0
D Fawcett not out 0
Extras 12
Total (33.5 overs) 120
Fall of wickets: 1-25, 2-44, 3-58, 4-88, 5-89, 6-107, 7-117, 8-120, 9-120, 10-120
Bowling: J Clark 9-3-19-4, W Hargreaves 4-0-25-0, O Kenyon 11-1-38-2, S Hunt 8-0-24-1, M Sanczak 1.5-0-10-3
Similar Posts:
- Borg And Thomas Poised For Heywood Debuts
- Home Comforts For Heywood As Dukinfield Put To Sword In Cup
- Top Order Fails As Kaye And Lovell’s Super Spells Go Unrewarded
- Nicol Shines With Cross As Heywood Chase Down Big Walsden Target
- Brilliant Fielding Sees Heywood To Thrilling Victory
- Heywood Think Big To Claim Five-Point Clifton Victory
- Rochdale Hold Nerve To Ease Past Heywood In T20
- Nicol And Cross Lead Heywood Into Wood Cup Quarters
- Batting Frailties To The Fore Again As Heywood Go Down At Monton
- Dominant Heywood Make It Four Maximums In A Row