A BOLTON Under-15s cricket team may have been frustrated by the weather in their pursuit of success but they did bring home silverware on the final game of the season.

Horwich RMI finished third in their age-category in the Bolton League but their Mervyn Porter cup final against Greenmount was called off due to the rain and it was put back until August 27.

With Westhoughton finishing first in the league, Greenmount runners-up and Horwich in third, the final was all or nothing to get their hands on a trophy.

Horwich skipper Adam Knowles won the toss and decided to bat but they reached 76-9 in 20 overs.

Only captain Knowles (13), Marcus Haydock (18), Jack Berry (13) and Jacob Swindells (10) reached double-figures in the low total.

For Greenmount Patrick Kilvington, Callum Hunter and Evan Williams bagged two wickets apiece.

In reply, Tom Heaton hit 28 as the wickets fell around him at the other end and the second highest scorer was the extras with 11 as Greenmount were 24 runs short.

Horwich's victory was down to impressive bowling and fielding with Marcus Haydock being the pick of the bowlers with 3-9 supported by Jack Berry, Sam Little, Knowles and Robbie Holt who took a wicket each.

Horwich coach Mark Knowles insists the players showed superb guts and resolve to dig out the win.

He said: "It was a great way to end our season.

"I did not think we did enough as we got 76 and they had beaten us in the first game of the season .

"But both sides were evenly matched.

"I was happy to get their top man Tom Heaton who plays for Lancashire out while the other wickets were falling.

"It was definitely the highlight of the season as the way we came back from when we were under pressure."

Horwich U15s have a reputation of being a successful side locally as they have completed league and cup doubles prior to this season.

And Knowles believes this side were not far of repeating that fate.

"Our tie with Westhoughton was rained off and at U15 level you only get one bite of the cherry by play each other once and if it is not played then it is a draw.

"Whereas if you play in the seniors they do replay the game.

"Greenmount finished second and we lost that tie so they deserved to be above us.

"Who knows we may not have won the game against Westhoughton but we would have tried our best.

"Another positive about the cup final was that it had to be re-arranged a couple of times and it was a great effort to get everyone together."

The Ramsbottom Road side have a bright future with talented players coming through their ranks.

Knowles said: "Marcus Haydock, Adam Knowles and Jack Berry have all played in the first team.

"I captain the second team and they were involved in winning the cup final at that level too.

"We expect them to come through to the first team in future with a lot of the other lads.

"It is great to have all local lads coming through as they all know combinations to succeed.

"Previously the U15s had the likes of Tom Billington, Lewis Haydock and Matt Morris have gone onto the first team.

"Tom is also in the Lancashire rank too.

"We have such a strong junior set-up run by David Fairbrother.

"The future looks bright for the club.

"Most of the U15s are moving up next season but we have a good set of 12-13 year olds coming through too."

"We finished third in the league and there were nine points between us and Westhoughton.

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