IN A repeat of last year's Over Sands Travel Division One Trophy final, the outcome was reversed as Warton snatched a last over victory from Milnthorpe.

Last year Warton blew their chance of victory from a seemingly unassailable position when they were on 114-0. They needed 184 to win, but lost by seven runs.

This year it was Milnthorpe's turn to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, but under very different circumstances.

Despite the best efforts of groundsman Kenny Shepherd, the Arnside ground could not produce a wicket with pace.

Andrew Ideson, in his first year as Warton's captain, won the toss and surprisingly elected to bat on what appeared to be a bowler's wicket.

With the third ball of the match the prolific Paul Weatherill was back in the pavilion to be followed by a regular procession.

The opening spell of John Naylor (3-24) outshone his more illustrious peer, Bob Baldwin (2-41), Mike Wills (2-17) and Chris Baldwin (1-15). Lee Illingworth, the young allrounder with a growing reputation, took 1-14 and it was only a gritty 22 from Ricky Nelson and a defiant 20 from 16-year-old Shane Dixon which gave Warton any sort of cheer.

A lifeline 33 from the last three overs from Gareth Denwood and David Robinson took the innings to a close on 122-9.

Milnthorpe should have won at a canter, needing only a single every other ball, but cricket does not work that way.

Despite losing Wills, Chris Bladwin and Brian Smith the game plan was still just about on at 47-3, but a crucial spell of bowling by Graham Crowther (3-13 off five overs) tore the innards out of the middle order to set up a frantic last phase of the match.

Captain Steve Bowman's 39 tipped the balance Milnthorpe's way and, come the last of the 25 eight-ball overs, 10 runs were needed for victory with three wickets standing.

Ricky Nelson, who had bowled only once this season, performed like someone half his age with quick and straight deliveries. He took one wicket and there was one run out as Milnthorpe fell five runs short of victory on 116-9.

In the league the previous day, the chasing teams were given a glimmer of hope when Warton held leaders Westgate to a winning draw.

Westgate quickly lost Simon Creed, but Peter Wilson (80) and Neil Parkinson (40) put on 130 for the second wicket.

D. Wilkinson contributed a further 60 as Westgate defied the wicket to close on 227-4.

Wilkinson then dismissed Paul Weatherill in the first over of Warton's innings. Ryan Nelson and Phil Bovis attempted to start a runs chase, but when Bovis was run out for 32, Warton shifted tactics and batted out for a losing draw on 162-8.

Second-placed Winder-mere resumed their challenge with a six-wicket victory over Arnside.

With Jonathan Cooper delivering a mixed bag with the new ball, and Matt Hartnett struggling to find a consistent length, it was left to Nick Lewthwaite (6-38) to do the damage.

Adrian Lee (24), Ian Bullough (22) and Chris Howsley (21) were Arnside's leading contributors, but they all fell to Lewthwaite, with Steve Carruthers taking an important catch on the long-on boundary to dismiss Bullough.

When Shepherd was caught by Jo Stephenson, to give Hartnett his solitary wicket, Arnside were 104 all out.

In reply, all the Windermere top-order made contributions towards the target, with in-form Andrew Wright (32), playing confidently all round the wicket, and John Baines (27), powerful on the off side, the most successful.

It fell to Mike Lewthwaite to hit the winning runs, with a steepling six off Adam Richardson that landed on the pavilion roof.

With four top order batsmen away Shireshead's innings never made headway at Milnthorpe.

Thanks to a combination of black-headed gulls which are reputed to be gnawing away at the Milnthorpe square and the swing of Bob Baldwin who took 6-33, the visitors were dismissed for 63.

Milnthorpe slipped to 30-6 after another good opening spell by Phil Oliver and Ian Ledward, but were able to recover to ensure they kept one foot in the title race, winning on 67-6.

Burneside could have been 24-3 against Ibis, but a dropped catch off Paul Wilson (46) enabled a third-wicket stand of 70 to be built as opener Mike Curran progressed to 51.

Ibis then asked stalwart bowler Dave Irvine (5-30) to participate with immediate results.

He bowled both batsman and, from 9-2, Burneside finished on 146-8.

After loosing an early wicket, due to tight bowling, Ibis had to dig in and runs were difficult to accumulate.

Needing wickets, Burneside brought on spin bowler Paul Wilson and Barry Metcalfe, but runs began to flow. Ken Coulston's patient 25 was supported by Kevin Hogg (13) and John Coulston (21).

Wickets kept falling, however, and Ibis settled for their two- point target of 103 to close on 104-7.

Sedgwick returned to something like form with a 39-run win at Heysham.

Mike Bracken led the way with 58 as Sedgwick made 199-7. In reply Heysham were bowled out for 160.

Bare were all out for 120 as Silverdale moved out of the bottom three, gathering 10 points for a five-wicket victory.

Kirkby Lonsdale continue to set he pace in Division Two, exacting revenge on Burneside A, the only team to have beaten them this season.

Wickets were shard by P. Pease (3-12), C. Johnson (2-11), B. Smith (2-21) and D. Troughton (2-29) as Burneside were all out for 88.

A subdued innings of 21 by T. Blanchard still pushed Kirkby on the way to victory, but it was left to R. Shaw (32 not out) and B. Smith (25 not out) to knock off the runs on 91-2.