Sean Burrill in full flow against Werneth

REPORT BY ROGER SMETHURST: Heywood seconds put in a great all-round performance when they faced Werneth at Crimble last week.

The previous days game against Clifton was washed out despite the best efforts of both teams, but the following day made up for it thanks to some excellent performances with both bat and ball, which led to a 115-run defeat of the visitors.

Heywood won the toss and got off to a rare exceptional start. Adam Fawcett and Matt Hood set the innings off at pace scoring at one point at seven an over as they attacked the wayward opening Werneth attack.

The pair looked untroubled and looked set for high individual scores when Hood fell for 38 lbw to a quicker ball from one of the four spinners used on the day by Werneth.

Having put on 86, Heywood appeared well set for a large total but then had a bit of a wobble losing Tom Blundell for no score and Adam Fawcett for 36.

The previous week’s top scorer Sean Burrill came to the crease and continued with his fine form.

Despite giving a chance while on 20 he then scored freely, playing aggressive shots all around the wicket.

Burrill’s innings proved crucial as Heywood continued to lose wickets at the other end. Mark Wright went clean bowled having misjudged a delivery, the normally reliable Chris Booth was out first ball caught behind and when Mikey Grogan was caught at mid off Heywood were in danger of not batting their overs out.

The Sheriff hits the deck as part of his bizarre dismissal. A shimmy down the track, a hoick, stumped and on his backside

Burrill had other ideas though as he passed 50 for the second consecutive week. Dom Fawcett and Roger Smethurst both went cheaply, the latter stumped while trying to give Burrill the strike with Smethurst’s dismissal causing the watching patio much amusement.

When Burrill eventually fell for 72 Heywood still had 8 overs left to bat and it was left to James Mills and Rick Purser to take Heywood to a competitive 221.

In taking the field Heywood were in confident mood and things couldn’t have started any better when James Mills clean bowled Werneth’s number 2 in his first over. Further wickets fell to Purser – one to a sharp catch to the ageless Mark Wright – and Mills as Heywood took control of the game.

In truth from this point Werneth were never in the game as Heywood’s young seamers Mills and Fawcett bowled with great discipline in support of Purser.

Fawcett bowled an excellent seven-over spell, eventually finishing with 3-22 and Mills then returned to the attack to pick up a further two wickets to finish with 4-33.

It was left to Mikey Grogan to pick up the final wicket as Werneth were bowled out for 106 giving Heywood a comprehensive win.

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The seconds travelled to second placed Walsden with a much-depleted side that saw former chairman David Fare dragged out of retirement and 13 year old Jack Morley given his second team debut.

Having won the toss on a gloomy day Heywood elected to bat and were in early trouble when Matt Hood’s run of poor form continued when he was run out without scoring and Dominik Fawcett followed soon after bowled by the experienced Mark Halstead.

Ray Baker had looked untroubled in making 20 when he gave Halstead his second wicket, hitting a catch to cover, and when Mikey Grogan was trapped lbw by the same bowler Heywood were in trouble at 59 – 4.

Experience was in no short supply at the crease as Mark Wright was joined by Roger Smethurst and the pair set about rebuilding the innings. Wright in particular played some aggressive shots before falling in Halstead’s penultimate over, well caught at long on for 36.

It was then left for Smethurst to shepherd the tail through to a respectable total and this was managed with first Keelan Nugent and then James Mills making useful runs as Heywood closed on 175 – 9 with Smethurst unbeaten on 58.

Walsden are known for their attacking approach to batting and it wasn’t long before chances were offered with Jack Hanson being dropped by both Smethurst and Wright in quick succession before Mikey Grogan then dropped a difficult chance off Howley.

These missed opportunities were to prove costly as Hanson then savaged the Heywood attack hitting 85 in quick time before falling to Dominik Fawcett, who in the meantime had also managed to snare Howley.

However Walsden showed no signs of letting up and Cameron Hanson took up the scoring rate hitting 49 not out in guiding his side to victory with almost 15 overs to spare.

On paper this appeared a hammering for a weakened Heywood side but in truth if early chances had been taken who knows what effect this would have had upon the games outcome with all four of Heywood’s bowlers putting in commendable performances in testing conditions.

On Sunday few could have predicted the drama that would befall Crimble on a day of blustery showers.

The seconds tough weekend continued when they entertained top of the table Norden at Crimble.

Despite the away team missing a couple of players they still fielded a strong line up and Heywood took the field expecting another testing day.

In contrast to the previous day Heywood held their catches and the previously unlucky James Mills found himself with two early wickets, with Rick Purser picking up a third. Where in previous matches Heywood had let opportunities slip Dominik Fawcett entered the attack and maintained the pressure picking up the impressive Udwadia and the dangerous Humphreys.

Norden had slumped to 54 – 5 and were in further trouble when Mills returned to the attack and trapped Norden captain Morrell lbw.

Despite a brief partnership between Dean Lord and James Harrison,  Mills and Mikey Grogan then wrapped up the Norden innings for 116 with Mills returning his first 5 wicket haul of the season in finishing with 5 – 35. All four Heywood bowlers played their part in this performance and for once were backed up with some solid fielding with Nugent, Mills and Burrill all taking impressive catches.

In response to the Norden total Heywood again lost an early wicket when Hood was bowled and despite losing Ray Baker the home side appeared in control with Sean Burrill and Mark Wright at the crease.

When Burrill unexpectedly fell for 36, Wright continued  with the Heywood run chase and despite losing Mikey Grogan cheaply was then joined by Mark Kenny as the home side got in touching distance of a much needed victory.

However with Norden having all but given up hope, rain intervened and the players were forced to leave the field.

This rejuvenated the Norden side who, on their return, reintroduced Dean Lord into the attack. It was Norden captain Paul Morrell who struck the first blow when Wright misjudged a delivery in trying to hit to Crimble’s open spaces and was bowled for 26 before Dominik Fawcett was out soon after comprehensively stumped for a duck.

Lord then took a grip of the game in a excellent spell of bowling where his prime aim was to hit the stumps.

Mark Kenny was cleaned bowled for 18 before Nugent and Mills followed shortly afterwards, both lbw without troubling the scoreboard, and when Rick Purser followed second ball for a duck Heywood were left contemplating how they had snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

Returning to the field Heywood lost their last 6 wickets for 7 runs in 5 overs to leave the away side jubilant.

This weekend, Heywood face a crucial game away at Littleborough, where a victory would all but seal the clubs safety in the top division.

Defeat, on the other hand, could leave the seconds with a nervy run which sees them entertain Rochdale at Crimble on Sunday.