Rain rain stay away, it's Hackney & Leigh Finals Day

After three dismal weeks of weather, cricketers in the WCL will be hoping for some respite. On Saturday leaders Heysham go to neighbours Morecambe 2nds for what should be a hotly contested local derby. Burneside host Warton while Kendal 2nds against Carnforth 2nds feels like a game where both teams will be especially keen to win to put some space between themselves and the relegation places currently occupied by Kirkby Lonsdale and Holme. Holme’s new captain Richard Herron takes his men to Arnside and will be looking for a winning start. All games will begin with a minute’s silence in memory of Paul Antcliffe of Heysham CC who sadly passed away last week. John Glaister is writing a cricketing obituary which we'll aim to publish over the weekend.

On Sunday, it’s the finals day of the Hackney and Leigh Trophy at Netherfield. The four top teams in the league have qualified this year. Heysham are missing their star all-rounder, Sam Calverley, but will hope that the Cassidy brothers are in form. Jeff Winder makes his first team debut for Heysham. Burneside look to be at full strength. Ben Phillips will be hoping to show his class for the holders on his former ground while keep an eye on Joe Sorrenson a left handed all-rounder who is developing into an excellent cricketer. Heysham and Burneside open proceedings at 1030. Shireshead are missing Tom Jacques for their game against Sedgwick, but Ernie Collinson is back from his rugby tour.

In Division 2 on Saturday leaders Shireshead 2nds face a challenge from a Milnthorpe team who have been unbeaten since 6th May and are the only team to beat Shireshead. This form has propelled them to third place.

There was no play except for the microclimate of Kirkby Lonsdale where the home team were 38/4 after 14 overs when play was called off against Burneside. There was a quarter-final in the Moon & Coxhill Trophy where Kendal 3rds beat Burneside 3rds by 5 wickets to book a place at Finals day. last week, but a summary of the two previous week's is here:

15 July

Persistent rain on Saturday washed out the Westmorland Cricket League programme, with not a single game completed. In the top of the table clash, Burneside were 28/7 with Steve Cooper 16 not out when the rain came. Graeme Cassidy took 3/12 and Sam Calverley 3/8. Bare were 171 all out against Holme with Obaid Mohamed (38) and Robbie White (42) sharing a stand of 76. Joel Bibby (4/31) and Lee Barnes (4/45) bowled well for Holme. James Royce (4/25) helped Kirkby Lonsdale restrict Morecambe 2nds to 115/9 while Ben Harrison was 44 not out for Kendal 2nds against his boyhood club Shireshead. With Oli Killiner (35) Kendal were well placed at 116/3 when it was finally accepted that the rain had won. Simon Gould had made a rapid 43 not out from 22 balls for Shireshead 2nds at Cartmel and Sunil Naikwadi took 3/11 for Westgate 2nds. Danny Halstead took 5/18 for Trimpell.

Saturday’s rain took a toll on Sunday’s fixtures as well with an early decision taken to postpone the Kendal Sports Trophies Finals Day on the advice of the Heysham groundsman where the high winds meant it was impossible to protect the wicket from the overnight rain. League games on Sunday were also affected but Oliver Wilkinson (3/8) helped Appleby Eden 3rds bowl out Netherfield 4ths for 79 and secure a 5 wicket win. Oliver Griffin made 38 not out for Netherfield. In Division 4 South Morecambe 4ths are only 1 point behind Shireshead 3rds after beating them in a low scoring game. Dineshmanickam Annadurai’s 53 not out was largely responsible for Morecambe getting to 88 as Thomas Atkinson took 3/16 and Rowan Yates 5/21. Atkinson made 21 but Shireshead finished 18 short, Ethan Packard taking 3/10. Sedgwick 3rds prevailed over Kirkby Lonsdale 2nds by 3 runs in a nail biter at Sedgwick House. Pete Otway (26) was the main contributor in 98 as Henry Treverton took 3/15 for Kirkby Lonsdale. Alex Mounsey (32) and Josh Ree (18) took Kirkby to 43/1, but Neil Bowness (3/24) broke the partnership which led to a clatter of wickets with Wesley Holmes (3/11) taking the crucial wicket of Mounsey. Joe Parkhouse (12 ney ot out) and Josh Forrest (7) added 13 for the last wicket, but their hopes were shattered when Brad Brentnall 92/11) bowled Forrest. Marcus Palamountain (21) top scored in Westgate 3rds 101 against Milnthorpe 2nds for whom Mohammed Kalithara took 3/8. Andy Harmer (29) and W Garnett (31) kept Milnthorpe in the hunt, but Palamountain (3/11), Matthew Bradshaw (3/28) and Ted Story (3/17) took wickets regularly meaning Milnthorpe were all out for 89.

Burneside, Sedgwick and Shireshead joined Heysham in qualifying for Finals day in the Hackney and Leigh Trophy. Shireshead lost to Stayley by 5 wickets in the Quarter-finals of the National Village Knockout.

8 July

British Rose Cricket Finals day at Warton was spoilt by the weather before the final, but not before Netherfield 3rds and Shireshead 2nds had impressed in winning their semi-finals. Netherfield’s opening pair Francis Bowers Richards (3/7) and Charlie Nicholls (4/8) were too much for the Cartmel batsmen. The 2019 Champions were 28/9 before recovering to 43 all out which Netherfield passed without losing a wicket. With captain Mike Mead taking 1/7 from his 4 overs, Shireshead were able to restrict Milnthorpe to 91/2, Steve Bowman making 31 not out and Mike Wills 32 not out. Rick Hamblett (27) got Shireshead off to a good start. Matthew Studt (2/21) dismissed Hamblett, but 14 year old Stan Collinson made 42 not out from 35 balls to take holders Shireshead through to the final which will be rearranged.

Rain also a major say on Saturday. Arnside gained some ground with a 161 run win against Bare. Jim Crawford (57) scored his first Arnside fifty, and Adam Richardson (44), Kieran Fallows (40) and Mike Shepherd (32) all contributed to a total of 227/8. Craig Albon took 4/66. Crawford (4/6) was then demolition man as Bare collapsed to 66 all out. The only other Division 1 game to achieve a result was at Holme where Shireshead gained a winning draw. Batting first Shireshead were in real strife as Joel Bibby (5/25) and Simon Shipperd (3/31) reduced them to 53/9. Veterans Phil Oliver (32) and Matt Yates (10 not out) added 58 for the last wicket to take the score to 111. Holme were 21/4 as Ben Brown (2/16) and Ernie Collinson (3/7) utilised the conditions before rain came. A DLS adjusted target of 97 from 27 overs was set and Holme were agonisingly 1 run short on 96/9 after Bibby (30) and Ethan Burton (18 not out) seemed to be taking them to victory before Bibby was bowled by Tom Jacques (3/22).

All the other Division 1 games were rain draws, but James Royce made 96 from 68 balls (5 fours, 5 sixes) for Kirkby Lonsdale at Carnforth where Zach Dodds took 3/33. Lee Calverley scored 51 for Heysham against Warton as Shaun Partridge took 3/18. Chris Evans scored 75 from 51 balls for Sedgwick at Kendal, and Ben Leacock had 3/25 and Ethan Ellwood 48 at Morecambe.

All Division 2 games were rain affected with only Shireshead 2nds achieving a winning draw on DLS at home to Netherfield 3rds. Rick Hamblett (51) and Simon Gould (51) both scored at faster than a run a ball in 189/6 declared from 33 overs, Rob Cope taking 3/49 for Netherfield. Netherfield scored 79/6 from 22 overs in reply, Luke Bray taking 3/25. In the other games Bob Davies (48 not out) carried his bat for Cartmel against Ambleside where Barny Wileman took 3/13 and Alex Brown 3/24. Mike Burton (3/22) and Sam Eccles (4/29) took the bowling honours for Coniston at Silverdale where number 10 Alfie Moffat top scored with 32. After suffering a nasty facial injury a few weeks ago it is good to see Jeff Winder (46) back in the runs for Heysham 2nds. Thamjid Nalakath (3/27), Andy Cormack (3/31) and Mike Wills (3/32) were all in the wickets for Milnthorpe. Westgate 2nds were in a good position against Morecambe 3rds thanks to John Lynch (3/15) when the rain came.

All Division 3 games were rain draws, but leaders Ingleton had a scare at home to Holme 2nds. Chasing 132 to win they were 68/8 when the rain came with old stager Mike Halhead (4/4) on fire. In the other games Dan Smith (33) and Eddie Hart (49) had got Arnside 2nds off to a good start. Glenn Russell (36 not out) and Sam Barlow (38) were in the runs for Carnforth 3rds, but with Jack Thwaites making a rapid 55 not out for Burneside 2nds were saved by the rain. Former Northern League Championship winner, Mark Clarkson made a brilliant 132 for Bolton le Sands. James Bousefield also made 56 not out and Andy Carruthers 34 not out in a mammoth 250/4 declared. Danny Halstead (3/24) kept up his good form for Trimpell while Kyle Hinds made 48 for Leven Valley and George Vinall took 4/59 for Windermere and Lewis Rands-Trevor 3/40.

On Sunday two games in the north were completed in Division 4. Andrew Lightfoot (53) and Luke Lightfoot (43) shared an opening stand, before George Potter (30) got Appleby Eden 3rds to 180/5 against Ulverston 3rds who replied with 85. Isaac Moorby took a career best 6/22 for Burneside 3rds. All six victims were clean bowled. Oliver Hall (3/33) helped him bowl out Netherfield 4ths for 112. Rob Timms (44 not out) and Jon Bushell (37) took Burneside to a 7 wicket win. Matthew Bailey took an outstanding 7/14 for Sedgwick 3rds as they bowled out Morecambe 4ths for 60. Bailey then scored 36 as Sedgwick won by 5 wickets.

The other games in Division 4 South fell foul to the weather. Sam Brown made 43 not out for Shireshead 4ths who were in a good position against Milnthorpe 2nds despite Dan Kavanagh taking 5/30 for the visitors. Sam Pollitt had taken 3/10 when the rain came with Milnthorpe needing 56 with 3 wickets left. Jakob Smith scored 41 for Kirkby Lonsdale 2nds against Shireshead 3rds for whom Evan Yates took 5/34 and Zac Heywood 3/21. Charlie Raistrick (36) top scored for Westgate 3rds against Heysham 3rds for whom Dylan Barnes took 3/15.

Sam Calverley scored 119 as Heysham beat Bare to qualify for their first ever finals day in the Hackney and Leigh Trophy. Morecambe 4ths beat Ulverston 3rds to reach the Moon and Coxhill Cup finals.