GREENMOUNT will represent Lancashire in the ECB under-13s national club championships for the second year running after retaining the county title.

They beat Longridge in the regional final of the T20 competition to set up a last-16 tie at home to Cheshire on July 16.

The youngsters put in an excellent performance in front of a home crowd on finals day, seeing off Glodwick by 38 runs in the last four before overcoming Longridge by 24 runs.

Both victories were set up by strong batting performances, as Greenmount made 120-2 in the semis (Dan Stevens 33 and Calum Hunter 20) and 119 in the final, when Stevens, Evan Williams and Hunter all retired on 30.

Neither of their opponents could match Greenmount's run-rate in the face of a disciplined bowling attack, with Hunter and Williams taking three wickets apiece in the semis and even 10-year-old Tom Nuttall getting in on the act in the final, conceding just 16 runs from his four overs.

James Cutt, the clubs and leagues officer for the Lancashire Cricket Board, said: “We wish Greenmount's under-13s the very best of luck in the national stages of the competition and hope they can go far as Lancashire representatives.”

Greenmount beat Horwich, Bradshaw, Heaton and Wigan to reach the regional finals day, keeping up the fine form of last year that saw them lift the Lancashire U13s Knock Out Cup for the first time in the club's history.

U13s coach Gareth Williams said: “This is the third year the under-13s have reached the county final. This latest success is testament to the time and effort the club has put into coaching and the strong emphasis on the juniors.

"Evan and Calum are regular members of the second team, with Evan also playing in the club’s successful T20 team.

"It is only a matter of time before all the youngsters in this side are playing senior cricket."

Greenmount's first-team regular Tom Heaton has also enjoyed county success this week, helping Lancashire U17s, along with Ramsbottom's Brad Fielding, progress to the national final of the Royal London County.

They beat Northamptonshire in the last four to set up a showdown with Middlesex. The final will be played at Kibworth CC on Sunday.