THE Westmorland Cricket League has continued to produce more incredible performances and competitive matches that has changed the landscape of the competition.

The third week of the season saw two of the championship contenders lock horns at Sedgwick and it was a comprehensive win for the home side who beat Heysham by 8 wickets. 

Sedgwick captain Jonny Matthews (5/35) has begun the season in fine form and his second 5 for dismissed Heysham for 129, Andy Hill top scoring with 43. 

Heysham’s new signing from Shireshead, Josh Smethurst (2/39) removed the Sedgwick openers, but Matthews promoted Chris Evans in an attempt to beat the weather and the powerful all-rounder finished the game inside 18 overs making 71 not out hitting 9 fours and 3 sixes, receiving good support from Robbie Tattersall (22 not out). 

Westgate stole a march on title rivals Shireshead knocking off 189 for the loss of only 2 wickets thanks to a chanceless 109 not out from Craig Buchanan.  Buchanan spent 2021 in Scotland and without him the upper order looked fragile.  Tom Jacques (41) and Rob Jacques (32) had stabilised the Shireshead innings after the returning Dylan Conroy (5/42) made early inroads. 

Jack Dodd made 32 and Phil Oliver 29 not out for the home side. 

Shireshead used 8 bowlers but couldn’t dislodge Buchanan who received good support from Andy Hill (44 not out) as the target was reached with 7 overs to spare.
Arnside beat Trimpell by 38 runs to record back-to-back wins.  Eddie Hart (51), Michael Shepherd (50), Alex Davidson (34) and Lee Illingworth (34) were the men in form as Arnside posted 232/9 in 34 overs.  Moe Patel took 4/77 and Peter McDermid 4/29.  Trimpell lost four early wickets, but Mark Baldwin (49) and Mike Bland (60) got them back in the game, Baldwin passing 5000 career runs for Trimpell in the process.  When Bland fell lbw to Rob Shepherd (4/33) the later order fell quickly. Jack Taylor (97 not out), Alec Martin (79) and Tom Fraine (41) were in the runs as Sedbergh School scored 247/3 against Bare who were 95 all out in reply, Robbie White (35) and John Hughes (30) the main contributors. 

Taylor took 3/29 to round off a fine day and Benjamin Starling (3/7) and Nick Kelly (3/11) joined him in the wicket’s column.  The other two games were intriguingly poised when weather intervened.

Ben Philips scored a quick 137 adding 147 with Steve Cooper (44 not out) as Burneside declared on 219/4 in the 29th over. When the rain came Kirkby Lonsdale needed 88 from 16 overs with 6 wickets in hand and Mark Beaumont (31 not out) and James Greenall (34 not out) going well. 

Thomas Suker (5/6) dismissed Warton for 139 with Tom Barnfield (46) and Jack Benson (22 not out) putting up the resistance, but Kendal 2nds were struggling themselves at 54/4 with Shaun Partridge taking 4/29 when the rain came.

It was runs galore at Ambleside as the home side made 299/3 declared with Pete Southworth scoring 93 from 87 balls, Rob Hunt 73 not out from 50 balls, Ben McGregor 57 from 59 balls.  Paul Johnson’s six laden 53 not out from 34 balls was the icing on the cake.  Only Graham Kellett made it into double figures for Ingleton and he went better than that making a dominant 103 not out, striking 14 fours and 4 sixes. Barny Wileman took 5/22 for Ambleside. 

Windermere achieved a brilliant win against Carnforth seconds.  Only Burneside has won the WCL more than Windermere’s 20 times, but the cry of “Come on Mere” has been muted in recent years.  It was heard in full throated glory on Saturday as chasing 227 to win, Windermere recovered from 40/4, the early damage inflicted by Alfie Hill (6/58), with Dan Sykes (66) and Will Aspinwall (98 not out) adding 132 for the fifth wicket.  It was still in the balance as the run rate climbed but Aspinwall used his long levers to power the ball into the gaps, hitting 18 fours before a sublime cover drive from Ronnie Kydd (14 not out) precipitated a mini pitch invasion from the Windermere faithful.  Earlier Michael Baxendale had made a career best 110 not out and Glenn Russell (71) returned to form, but it proved not quite enough.  Captain Sykes took 3/37 for Windermere.
Holme continued their good start to the season.  Liam Teasdale (51) and contributions from Joel Bibby (30) and the Herron brothers meant the home side could declare on 184/6 from 33 overs.  Oliver Sanday (1/30) was the pick of the bowlers for Sedgwick 2nds who were all out for 74, Simon Shippard continuing his early season from with 4 wickets.  Coniston’s run machine Mike Burton (109 not out) made his second hundreds of the season. 

Rob Warne (41) and Elliott Newby (35) took the visitors to 236/4 before the rain arrived at Netherfield which prevented play after tea.  Silverdale got their season going with a 9 wicket win against Cartmel who were indebted to Tom Harvey’s 33 in making 81, Phil Mason taking 4/9 and Jon Mason 3/29.  A 25 ball 44 not out from Robert Reghelini and Silverdale reached the target with aplomb.  Westgate 2nds scored 161 largely thanks to Dave Hannigan (44). 

Promising quick bowler Aiden Weir took 4/43 and his father, Andy, weighed in with 4/32.  Jacob Vaughan took 5/25 as Shireshead batted out for a draw on 117/8.
In Division 3, Rob Speak (3/11) and Sam Trimmell (3/20) bowled out Holme 2nds for 65. 

Galgate reached their target inside 6 overs as Greg McGaragher (40 not out) sealed an early finish. Richard Yates (44) and David Whitaker (33 not out) were the main contributors as Heysham 2nds scored 180/6 against Silverdale 2nds, Paul Moffatt taking 3/16. 

Alfie Moffatt made 31 but Silverdale could only muster 93, Chris Boak taking 3/25. 

The other games were rained off on Sunday.
In Division 4 Bare 2nds are the early pace setters and beat Morecambe 4ths by 9 wickets. 

Ulverston 3rds gained their first win by a solitary run with Jonny Lowes starring scoring 78 not out in his team’s 115 before taking 4/20 as Ingleton 2nds were all out for 114. 

Chris Chappell took 3/21 for Ingleton. Stan Collinson (69) and David Sloan (50 retired hurt) helped Shireshead 3rds to 179/2 who then bowled Netherfield 4ths for 61, Ryan Danson taking 3/17. 

Westgate 3rds scored 99/5 in a game reduced to 30 overs a side, Matthew Bradshaw top scoring with 26 not out. 

Ben Harvey (35) and Patrick Cantley (24 not out) helped Sedgwick 3rds to a 5-wicket win.

This week’s fixtures:
Thursday 5 May
Sedgwick v Burneside 6pm
Friday 6 May
Heysham v Bare 6pm
Saturday 7 May
Division 1
Heysham v Milnthorpe
Kendal 2nds v Bare
Kirkby Lonsdale v Sedgwick
Trimpell v Sedbergh School 2nds
Warton v Arnside
Westgate v Burneside
Division 2
Carnforth 2nds v Ambleside
Coniston v Westgate 2nds
Netherfield 3rds v Ingleton
Sedgwick 2nds v Silverdale
Shireshead 2nds v Cartmel
Holme v Windermere
Division 3
Arnside 2nds v Morecambe 3rds
Bolton le Sands v Heysham 2nds
Milnthorpe 2nds v Holme 2nds
Leven Valley v Trimpell 2nds
Silverdale 2nds v Kendal 3rds
Sunday 8 May
Division 3
Carnforth 3rds v Galgate
Division 4
Bare 2nds v Sedgwick 3rds
Burneside 2nds v Coniston 2nds
Ingleton 2nds v Netherfield 4ths
Morecambe 4ths v Sedbergh School 3rds
Ulverston 3rds v Shireshead 3rds
Westgate 3rds v Kirkby Lonsdale 2nds
Wednesday 11 May
Sedgwick 2nds v Ambleside 6pm
Netherfield 3rds v Coniston 6pm
Thursday 12 May
Shireshead 2nds v Ingleton 6pm