Welcome

ESTABLISHED 1874

FOUNDER MEMBERS OF THE GREATER MANCHESTER CRICKET LEAGUE

Future Fixtures

Saturday 11 May: 1st XI vs Bradshaw CC (Away)

Saturday 11 May: Under 11’s B vs Roe Green CC (Home)

Sunday 12 May: Under 13’s vs Middleton CC (Away)

Sunday 12 May: 1st XI vs Horwich RMI CC - ECB National Club Championship (Round 1) (Home)

Sunday 12 May: 3rd XI vs Prestwich CC 3rd XI (Away)

Monday 13 May: Under 9’s vs Monton CC 'B' / Monton CC (Home)

Monday 13 May: Under 15’s vs Swinton Moorside CC (Away)

Monday 13 May: Under 9’s A vs Monton CC 'B' / Monton CC 'A' (Home)

Monday 13 May: Under 9’s B vs Monton CC 'A' / Monton CC 'B' (Home)

Wednesday 15 May: Under 11’s vs Friends Sporting Club (Away)

Wednesday 15 May: Under 18’s vs Woodbank CC (Home)

Wednesday 15 May: Under 11’s A vs Friends Sporting Club (Away)

Wednesday 15 May: Under 11’s B vs Swinton Moorside CC (Away)

Thursday 16 May: 1st XI vs GMCL20 - Roe Green Renegades (Home)

Opening Times

Today 15:00 to 00:00

Sat 12:00 to 00:00

Sun 12:00 to 22:30

Mon 17:30 to 21:30

Tue 18:30 to 23:00

Wed 18:30 to 23:00

Thu 18:30 to 23:00

MATCH REPORT 1st XI SUNDAY 5.5.24

Coloured kits and pink balls were the order of the day at CCC on Sunday as we welcomed Friarmere CC to Manchester Road.

Clifton batted first and in the first 10 were off to a flyer at just below 8 an over being scored but for the loss of 3 wickets. Both Settle (7) and Dorsey (31) were removed by some excellent diving catches at backward point and pro Ryan Ayres fell victim to a strange case of miscommunication when he appeared to call a run to extra cover from the non strikers end which Max (at the strike end) was not interested in at all. Unfortunately Ben Hamilton fell the same way with a great piece of fielding meaning a direct hit was enough to see Ben back to the pavilion. Turner was next to depart for 1 and all of a sudden we were 90-5.

David Dempster (29) came to the crease and along with Meyer rebuilt the innings steadily and kept the score ticking over nicely. A few lusty blows towards the end from Higham (22) and Howarth (34) and with Max still at the crease we got to the final ball of our innings at 278-9. Max needed a single to reach 3 figures and put the cherry on the top of a brilliant innings but unfortunately he guided one in to the keepers gloves and finished on a heroic 99!

With the ball Clifton took regular wickets and our total always seemed too high of a mountain for the opposition to climb. The Friarmere batsmen offered little resistance with the exception of Fielding who managed 62 from 74 but apart from that, the rest were shared amongst the EIGHT Clifton bowlers as follows.

D Higham 3-44

R Dempster 0-5

R Ayres 1-11

B Hamilton 2-39

J Settle 0-6

S Dorsey 2-16

M Turner 1-1

D Dempster 1-6

and Friarmere finished 127 all out!

So now on to round 2 of the cup in a few weeks so lets see who the draw brings!

MATCH REPORT 2ND XI SATURDAY 4.5.24

A strong 2nd XI took a trip to Wythenshawe CC on Saturday which for most of us was a first and one we certainly wont forget.

We arrived at the ground to see the covers being pushed off what looked a very green and soft pitch only to be told we weren't playing on that one but one that was more wet and more soft! When the stumps went in we were far more aware of the 40 yard boundary towards the clubhouse which meant bowling spin from both ends would be a very difficult task.

Having lost the toss, Clifton were all together for the start of the 2024 season and as always, we opened with Rob Meredith. Rob bowled beautifully all afternoon but to no reward wickets wise as he finished with ridiculously economic figures of 12 overs 0-16. The last 11 overs from that end were bowled by the skipper who ended with figures of 2-30 bowling right to the death. The 23 overs from that end went at only 2 and over but unfortunately, some indifferent bowling from the other end meant that the opposition probably finished with more than they should have.

Jordy Higham (1-19 off 4) struggled to find his line and length as did Tom Worthington (0-19 off 4) who followed him. Lewis Keogh was then brought into the attack and bowled 2 great spells of 6 and 3 overs, finishing with an excellent 9 overs 4 for 21. Dan Jones bowled in between Lewis' spells and also bowled with good pace and accuracy bowling his 6 over spell finishing with figures of 2 or 7.

Wythenshawe did well in the end reaching 115-9, which on a very challenging pitch was worth 200!

The Clifton innings unfortunately never really got going - some were tempted by the short boundary, others were victims of the pitch and some just looked like it was the first time they'd held a bat since September. Only Judge (18) Keogh (20) and Hogben (12) got stuck in but even their combined 50 took 120 balls emphasising just how hard it was to score runs. Tom Worthington did a good job in hanging around whilst runs were being scored showing just how hard he has worked on his batting over winter.

All in all a poor day at the office but some positives to take forward into the season.

MATCH REPORT 1ST XI SATURDAY 4.5.24

The league season got underway at last on Saturday, with the club being one of very few, if any at all, to get first and second XI games in. The firstsstarted on time, playing the full 50 overs, in a division in which two games didn’t even start.

The recent filthy weather made it a tricky task for opening pair Sam Dorsey and Joe Settle who, after dispatching a couple of early gifts, found himself lbw to the first of Pilling’s five victims. Sam, though, was in ‘they shall not pass’ mode, as he dug in with Max Meyer, to provide the sort of platform for a late change into attack mode, much like last week at Wallasey. That partnership of 101, with Max bringing up his first Clifton half century, was the impetus for an scenario that was very similar in nature to last week, with Ryan Ayers (30 off 49) then Mason Turner (21 off 16), Ben Hamilton (12 off 16) and Matt Howarth (13 off 8) all bludgeoning some very big maximums, taking the score to an imposing 201, considering the conditions and the fact that the opposition bowling and fielding was largely first rate.

Shaw started well, but as always, wickets slow down the progress and after skipper Richard Dempster removed both openers with 22 and 23 on the board, Shaw were always going to be up against it. Again, the bowling attack complimented each other well, grinding out wickets and maidens with growing ease, allowing Danny Higham to return after a tricky first spell, to demolish the lower order with 5-21. Only Mason found it difficult to hit a length and came away wicketless and it’s heartening to see that, when one bowler has an off day, the rest step up to the plate. Shaw finally succumbed for 132, but it has to be said that they will surprise a few teams this season with their all round quality.

So, a good day at the office and onward an upwards into the cup tie and next week’s visit to the idyllic pastures of Bradshaw, who’s promotion party at Egerton proved a damp squib when they were all out for 50.