At the Halfway Stage Heysham are Top

In a blink of eye, the first half of the Westmorland League season is complete. Heysham sit proudly 11 points clear at the top of Division 1, but suffered their first reverse on Saturday at home to Shireshead. Tom Jacques scored his third century against Heysham, making 103 from 126 balls (12 fours, 3 sixes) and adding 153 for the second wicket with Adam Murphy who made a chanceless 85 from 92 balls (12 fours, 1 six). Jamie Cassidy (3/53) and Sam Calverley (3/60) weren’t able to impose their usual restraint on batsmen in perfect batting conditions, but picked up late wickets as Shireshead finished on 238/6. When Heysham batted, Dave Jack (1/54) and Jake Agar (1/24) removed the openers for single figure scores. Consolidation was on the mind of Phil Bovis (37) who batted steadily whilst Sam Calverley (34) rode his luck. Neither could make much headway against Shireshead skipper, Jack Cunnington (5/22) who bowled a brilliant spell of off spin nor Joe Oliver (1/29) who capped his niggardly spell by producing the perfect nip backer to castle Bovis. Thereafter it was left to Graeme Cassidy (39 not out) and Sam McClements (7 not out) to salvage a draw on 147/8. 11 points to Shireshead, 2 to Heysham.

Paul Dodds scored 101 from 142 balls for Kendal 2nds who with Sam Fletcher contributing 31 scored 201/5 against second placed Burneside. Dan Greenwood (58) led the reply and with David Batty (32) and Ben Leacock (33 not out) joining all the batsmen in double figures, Burneside won by 5 wickets with 7 balls to spare. Sedgwick’s seam attack led by Tom Ridley (3/7) whose fielding also accounted for two run outs dismissed Arnside for 48 which they passed for the loss of two wickets, Ali Howell making 20 not out. Carnforth 2nds were in real trouble against local rivals Warton at 12/5 and 33/6 with Paul Simpson taking 4/31, but Adam Hornby (28) put down roots whilst Alfie Hill made an outstanding 63 from 67 balls, a career best that confers all rounder status on the promising player. Carnforth’s 152 was much more than they could have hoped for. Warton went after the target with some aggression, but despite a swashbuckling 65 from 49 balls from Tom Barnfield they were all out for 114 in the 24th over, Stan Rich taking 5/61.

Holme lifted themselves out of the bottom two with a 4 wicket win in a game when the toss was important. Ian Betley doesn’t play much cricket, but when he does he invariably takes wickets. On this occasion it was 4/28 and with Joel Bibby (3/15) also at his best, Kirkby Lonsdale were all out for 114, Ben Ferguson (30) top scoring. It wasn’t plain sailing for Holme and they needed 31 from Liam Teasdale at the top of the order and a stand of 35 for the 7th wicket between Robin Adams (36 not out) and Bibby (16 not out) to secure the win. Obaid Mohammed (24) top scored in Bare’s 127, but none of the batsmen really got going against Morecambe 2nds attack with Jack Lupton (3/36) and Gullam Maje (3/28). Jamie Holmes (37) and Jamie Ulyatt (47) ensured a 6 wicket win.

Shireshead 2nds remain top of Division 2 after a comprehensive victory against Westgate 2nds. Simon Gould (43) and Aiden Weir (33) were the main scorers in 182. Sunil Naikwadi took 3/50, but Westgate could make little impression against the Shireshead attack being all out for 79. Daniel Pye took 3/26. Silverdale are 10 points behind in second place after a winning draw against Milnthorpe. Jon Mason (69) held the innings together, but at 91/8 Silverdale were in trouble. Mason found support from Steve Beck (36 not out) and the pair added 78 for the 9th wicket. Scott Singleton took 3/32 and Mike Wills 3/46. Jon Mason (3/30) then reduced Milnthorpe to 2/2. Mike Wills batted well for 55, but the visitors had to accept the draw on 122/8.

Andy Hill (73) and Geoff Carter (70) added 122 for Heysham 2nds at Sedbergh. Felix Foster took 4/37 and Alfi Sanosi 4/40 for the School 2nd team playing their final game of the season. They bowled out Heysham for 204, but were all out for 65 in reply, Chris Boniface taking 4/6 and Jack Rawlings 3/25. Paul Salmon (51) and Craig Walmsley (54) added 78 for the first wicket for Netherfield 3rds. David Unsworth (3/40) and Joe Cowperthwaite (4/36) pegged them back, and Joe Atkinson (3/26) cleaned up the tail as the home side were dismissed for 156. A career best 6/22 from Harry Smith and 4/28 from Francis Bowers-Richards bowled out Cartmel for 97. Ambleside scored 130 before bowling out Coniston for 104 to win by 26 runs. Left-armers Dan Lawson (5/22) and Ben Harvey (3/8) bowled out Morecambe 3rds for 72 on Sunday which Sedgwick 2nds passed for the loss of 2 wickets, Ali Howell getting another red inker with 41.

Huw Sharpe (71 not out) and Chris Fleming (32 not out) led Division 3 leaders Ingleton to 156/2 against Windermere who ground out a draw on 110/9 their captain Dan Sykes (43) the only player with much of an answer to his opposite number Luke Gorst who took 4/14 from 10 overs. Carnforth 3rds are in second place. Connor Dyson took 3/18 as they bowled out Bare 2nds for 70 which despite 4/30 from Zak Albon they passed for 5, Owen Russell making 32. Mike Dickinson made 39 for Arnside but they found it hard going against Bolton le Sands for whom John Gates took 3/35. 127 proved nowhere near enough as John Carter (32) and Mark Clarkson (78) powered the visitors to an 8 wicket win. Trimpell captain Danny Halstead (6/35) passed the 30 wicket milestone for the season as Burneside 2nds were all out for 143, George Phillipson (38) top scoring. Joe Sumsion and Mark Baldwin each made 53 not out as Trimpell won by 8 wickets. Richard Marshall (4/18) and Kyle Hinds (3/27) dismissed Silverdale 2nds for 108, Jack Belcher making 31. Hinds made 82 not out as Leven Valley won by 8 wickets. Rob Speak (44) and Asif Mansoor (31 not out) took Galgate to 161/5 against Holme 2nds who replied with 105, Mansoor taking 5/18.

In Division 4 North James Longley took 5/3 to bowl out Appleby Eden 3rds for 55 and prepare the way for a 7 wicket win for Netherfield 4ths. Noah Hoyle took 3/37 for Appleby Eden. It was the only game to survive the weather as Shireshead 4ths first ever game saw Matthew Sutcliffe (36) take his side to 128/9 declared against Burneside 3rds who thanks to Blake Airey (40) were on the cusp of victory at 109/5 when rain arrived. Steve Huggonson took 3/27 and Connor Green 4/16 for Burneside and Sam Pollite 3/12 for Shireshead. A career best 6/12 from Francisco Cruz-Hall bowled out Ingleton 2nds for 45 and at 32/2 Coniston 2nds were only beaten by the weather. The rain came earlier to Ulverston where Simon Williams had made 32 not out in 111. Trent Knowles took 6/35, but Kendal 3rds didn’t get to bat.

In Division 4 South, Niall Parkinson (52 not out) and Mark Beaumont (41 not out) had put Kirkby Lonsdale 2nds in a strong position against Westgate 3rds, Ian Wilson was 31 not out for Sedgwick 3rds out of 48/4 against Heysham 3rds and Jack Heys was 34 not out in 103/4 for Shireshead 3rds v Milnthorpe 2nds and all these games were curtailed by the rain.

In the British Rose Cricket Trophy, Netherfield 3rds beat Coniston to reach their first ever finals day and will join Cartmel and Milnthorpe and the winners of Shireshead 2nds and Morecambe 3rds. In the Hackney and Leigh Cup, Warton beat Bare to gain a quart-final away at Heysham, Morecambe 2nds beat Carnforth 2nds and Kirkby Lonsdale against Burneside was rained off.