MILNTHORPE stole a march on the other top-flight clubs on a rainswept day when they raced to a 10-wicket win over Arnside for a maximum winning 10-point haul.

All the other matches were washed out with the teams taking four points apeice.

Arnside were quickly on the back foot on a seamer's wicket against the bowling of Mike Wills and Mike Halhead.

Struggling at 19-3 and with the forecast rain threatening, they decided to shut up shop.

Wills, in particular, had other ideas and he ran through the batting to finish with a magnificent 7-11, while Halhead took 3-8 as last year's runners-up were tumbled out for the addition of just three runs.

Arnside skipper Ian Bullough said there were no excuses. "They bowled really well and although we survived 26 overs, there were about eight when we scored nothing at all."

Milnthorpe had no trouble knocking off the required 23 without loss.

Both weekends of the two week old season have been hit by weather and wins are as rare at hen's teeth.

Wills was not the only bowler to take a seven-wicket haul and Westgate's Ian Higson took the lion's share of the honours when he returned 7-47 as Silverdale were dismissed for 128, of which opener. Jonnie Mason persevered through the collapse for a hard- fought 48 out of their total of 128 off 45 overs.

When the rain came on strongly again, it prevented Westgate from making only the barest of start in reply to end an intriguing battle.

Warton's fine young bowling prospect 16-year-old James Rafferty showed his intent with a 5-25 haul to help reduce Sedgwick to 101 all out.

Once again, the contest was cut short as Warton posted just five runs on the board without loss when play stopped never to start again.

A first-ball breakthrough put a stride into the step of Windermere, who inserted Ibis, but their opponents dug in and the next wicket to fall was a self-inflicted blow of a run-out.

Fellow Ibis batsmen S. Sampson and D. Troughton bunkered down well on 35 and 39 respectively out of a score of 125-3 when the rain came.

Burneside had made a sound start of 43 without loss against visitors Shireshead when they came off.

Ambleside in Division Three beat the weather with a eight-wicket win over Hey-sham, who they bowled out for 58.

Savage hitting from Silverdale skipper Phil Bovis, the former Kent seconds player, was the highlight of a National Village Cup encounter with Threlkeld that produced 554 runs. Bovis came in with the score on 22 and scorched his way to 170 before he fell with two balls of the innings left.

He found fine support from Phil Lowe with an unbeaten 52, as the pair put on 194 at a rate of 10 runs per over as Silverdale piled up 295-3.

Threlkeld's left-hander Luke Winbridge from Down Under gave them the hope of a thrilling finish.

When he fell for 121, they required 97 off eight overs and Silverdale finally gained control to end up 36-run winners as Threlkeld closed on 259-9.

May 9, 2003 12:30