Greens keep up crown defence
HAWK Green collected another 20-point victory in their bid to retain the title as they saw off the challenge of Tintwistle.
Unusually the Greens skipper, Josh Unsworth, lost the toss and was asked to field first.
The Tintwistle openers Mark Lilley and Damian Weatherhead really struggled against the Greens opening attack of Jack Needham and Lee Hallas, with a little help from the wicket.
When the change bowlers, Josh Unsworth and Jordan Henderson, replaced the openers it was much the same, to the point that after 23 overs the home side were 32-0.
First to fall was Mark Lilley, run out by a direct hit from Chris Head for 9 off 76 balls, 39-1.
Next to the wicket Kieran Davies was also next to fall, caught by Josh Hampson off the bowling of Henderson, 50-2.
Weatherhead was still plodding ahead, being beaten by the bowling at regular intervals and riding his luck until he attempted to sweep Mark Richards and was adjudged LBW, 61-3.
New batsman, Stuart Charmley joined Ryan Nixon and should have been run out first ball but then was called for a suicidal single and was run out, 62-4.
Incoming batsman Gavin Cole lasted just six balls before he was out for two, stepping on his wick- ets from the bowling of Mark Richards, 66-5.
Nixon tried to inject some urgency into the innings but after scoring 25 from 21 deliveries he attempted one big shot too many and was bowled by Henderson, 90-6.
At that stage, skipper Unsworth brought himself back in to the attack and very quickly accounted for James Pool bowled for one, 94-7.
He was followed immediately by Jonathan Booth also bowled first ball, 94-8. The next batsman, Stuart Rose, was also dismissed for a duck, caught Hampson bowled Unsworth, 98-9.
Jack Needham was brought back in to the attack with immediate effect as he had Alex Brown caught behind by Ben Littler and the innings closed on 102.
Unsworth was the pick of the Green bowlers with 3-7 off nine overs and Richards and Henderson picked up a couple each.
The Hawk Green reply was led by Hampson and Paul Needham against the opening attack of Charmley and Brown and it was the former that found a bit of life in the pitch early in the reply but was strangely taken out of the attack after only four overs.
Both batsmen batted sensibly and moved the score along at a decent rate but both were assisted by some wayward bowling which proved to be a nightmare for the Tintwistle keeper as 19 byes past him.
The chase was completed in the 20th over without the fall of a wicket. Hampson closed on 42 and Needham on 37, another 20 points in the quest to retain the title.
The 2nd Xl lost narrowly to Tintwistle but are an emerging team with lots of youngsters. On Sunday the 1stXl should have played Pott Shrigley in the Bissenden but they conceded on the grounds they could not field a team.
Next Saturday sees the 1st Xl at home to title challengers Mottram.