GMCL round-up: Mottram promoted, Hadfield relegated

On a thrilling final day of the 2025 cricket season, it was contrasting fortunes for local clubs- Mottram have, for the first time ever, been promoted to Premier 2 whilst Hadfield have suffered another Championship relegation.

In a season-ending finale that fans of all sports hope for, Championship survival came down to a straight shoot out between Hadfield and Glodwick at Newshaw Lane in what was the only completed fixture in the GMCL Championship.

Droylsden started the day in pole position to avoid the drop needing just to equal Glodwick’s result; Hadfield, meanwhile, had to win and see Droylsden lose.

Hadfield won the toss and surprisingly elected to bat. 

A heavy shower early in the first innings reduced each side’s innings to 44 overs and Hadfield struggled on a bowler-friendly green-top. 

After 16 overs, they had only 30 on the board for the loss of 6 wickets. 

A brilliant counterattacking partnership from Shantanu Khenat (63) and Jonny Gabriel (27) lifted the score to over 100, before the latter was needlessly ran out. 

Hadfield, again, collapsed to just 125ao with 5 overs left. Imran Asghar ended with 5-61.

Needing a bonus point to give them the best chance of outdoing Droylsden, Glodwick started slowly themselves. 

They reached 50 in the 18th over but, crucially, had lost only one wicket. 

Two quick wickets before the drinks break gave Hadfield hope, but it was during this break that both teams got the crucial news that Droylsden‘s match had been abandoned. 

The winner of this fixture would, thus, retain their Championship status; a tie would do for Glodwick. 

After a brief sojourn for the elements, both sides returned to the field, Glodwick needing 50 runs, Hadfield 6 wickets. 

In conditions even Noah wouldn’t have been prepared for, Glodwick took it deep. 

Hadfield shelled an absolute goober with Glodwick 6 wickets  down, and the visitors eventually and cagily saw it home by 3 wickets and just 11 balls remaining. 

Glodwick boogied the night away whilst it was a fittingly shambolic performance by Hadfield indicative of the second half of their season, after such a promising first half.

Elsewhere, Mottram themselves celebrated one of their greatest ever seasons.

Needing a bonus win against already-promoted Woodhouses to guarantee promotion, Mottram were thwarted by the rain with Woodhouses 140-6 off 30 overs.

Thankfully for them, Greenfield, who had to better Mottram’s result to leapfrog them into third, were also rained off with just 8.4 overs remaining of their game. 

Reduced to 20 overs per side thanks to a necessary declaration, Greenfield’s Alex Peters (62) and the Championship’s leading run scorer Ayaz Tasawar (84* from just 42) helped the visitors to 171-2 declared off 20. 

Needing 97 off 20 to win, Moorside were stopped when 60-3 off 11.

Heywood are champions. Woodhouses also go to Premier 2. 

Friarmere join Hadfield and Droylsden in Division 1.

Robert Hinchliffe GMCL Premier League

The GMCL Premier League title was secured in the final game by Prestwich.

They needed a positive result in the final game to be certain of the title and, in a questionably contrived manner, both Prestwich and Roe Green (also vying for the title on the final day) won in the only two completed games of the day.

Tom Gibson scored a watchful 55 not out for Prestwich as they scored 106-1 off 26 in a rain-affected first innings. Horwich needed 139 from 20 overs to deny Prestwich the title but came up well short on just 92-8.

Roe Green, meanwhile, ready to pounce on any Prestwich slip-up, restricted home side Clifton to 106-9 off 38. 

Andy Hough excelled in bowler-friendly conditions to end with 5-27. 

They walked the rain-restricted second innings. 

Needing 65 off 20 overs, they took just 32 balls to secure second place and zero bragging rights.

Elsewhere, Denton West secured a respectable 5th place. 

Flowery Field, meanwhile, were related to Premier 2 along with Shaw and Bradshaw.

GMCL Premier 2

Daniel Cranmer took another 6 wickets (6-29) to help Denton St Lawrence avoid relegation. 

They scored 117-3 after bowling Astley & Tyldesley out for 116.

Cranmer ends as the league’s leading wicket taker despite flirting with relegation all season; an impressive 71 scalps to his name. 

Elsewhere, Woodbank (123-2) secured the league title by beating Saddleworth (124) by 8 wickets. Three further games were completed. 

Elton (159-7) lost to Monton (170- 8) by two wickets with Monton also securing promotion to Premier 1. 

Walshaw (122) lost to Stand (107-8) by 10 runs. 

Brooksbottom edged the third promotion spot.

Stand, Saddleworth and Elton were relegated to the Championship.

GMCL Division 1

Not a single game was completed in Division 1. 

Milnrow, Dukinfield and Lord’sbound Stayley make the step up to the GMCL Championship. 

Worsley, Bury and Werneth drop down to Division 2.

GMCL Division 2

In a deflating promotion-decider in Division 2, Stretford (75-2) pumped Woodley (74). 

A win for Woodley would’ve seen them promoted to the Championship themselves. 

Elsewhere, two more games were completed: Adlington (101) lost to Golborne (148-8). 

Denton West 2nd XI (131) lost to SW Manchester (154-9).

United Stars, Golborne and Stretford go up. Tottington St John, Denton West 2nd XI and Wythenshawe go down.

GMCL Division 3

Only one game was played on Saturday ion Division 3. 

Darcy Lever (171-5) comfortably beat Denton St Lawrence 2nd XI (112), with the latter already relegated.

They are joined in Division 4 by Rochdalians and Heaton 2nd XI.

Darcy Lever, Bolton Indians and Whalley Range 2nd XI are promoted to Division 2.

GMCL Division 4

No games in Division 4, only one forfeit in favour of Friends Sporting Club.

The Second XIs of Flixton, Heyside and Elton all celebrated long into the night.

Westhoughton 2nd XI, Ashton Ladysmith, Shaw 2nd XI and Micklehurst all commiserated.

GMCL Division 5E

Royton 2nd XI secured their Division 5E status with a 53-run victory away at Glossop 2nd XI. 154 played 101. 

Travis Martin took 5-16 for Royton in the second innings. 

Mottram 2nd XI, meanwhile, drop down to the basement league along with Moorside 2nd XI and Littleborough Lakeside. 

Friends United and Springhead are elevated to Division 4.

GMCL Division 6E

The Division 6E title came down to a thrilling final game shootout between Dukinfield 2nd XI and Flowery Field 2nd XI. 

The latter prevailed by a single point, 95-94, despite both winning on the final day.

Flowery Field (123-3) beat Stayley (145) whilst Dukinfield (109-0) thrashed home side Stalybridge (111) by ten wickets. 

Elsewhere, Ashton 2nd XI (94-3) beat Denton (93) 2nd XI by 7 wickets.