FORTY years of the League Cup competition in the Westmorland League was marked on Sunday, but it was the first time that Windermere had lifted the Hackney and Leigh-sponsored trophy after a comfortable 107-run victory over Arnside at Burneside CC on Sunday.
Surprisingly, given their pedigree, Windermere's only other appearance in the final came in 1989, but they put the omission to rights in a one-sided final.
Batting first, Windermere got off to a rapid start as Andrew Wright (32) and Nick Lewthwaite (37) put on 52 off eight eight-ball overs.
Thereafter the innings stuttered along against some tidy Arnside bowling and after Jamie Crawford's notable contribution of 26, Windermere closed on 151-7.
Arnside's Adam Richardson finished with 3-25 and Shane Slater bowled economically for just 23 runs.
An injury to young Chris Howsley while bowling left Arnside with 10 men to get the desired runs. But that loss soon proved to be academic as Windermere bowlers Jonothan Cooper and Matthew Hartnett produced the fine restrictive spell that was just what the team required.
After 10 overs Arnside were struggling at 24-3 and a bowling change offered no respite as the remaining batsmen surrendered tamely and the seasiders were dismissed for 44.
Nick Lewthwaite of Windermere was man of the match for his 37 and 4-2.
It left Windermere club member Derrick Hackney, of the firm Hackney and Leigh, who have sponsored the competition since 1993, to present cup and medals, although sadly the showpiece was marred by some unruly and unseemly behaviour from a section of the crowd.
n NETHERFIELD beat Sedbergh by 36 runs to win the Woodbridge and Mounsey Fourth Division Cup.
A. Richardson, batting at No 7, rescued the Netherfield innings with an unbeaten 86 after opener D. Stansfield made the next best score of 25, and it enabled a target of 196-8 to be set. Sedbergh's M. Platts took 3-43 and J. Cann 2-24.
Sedbergh were all out for 160-8 in reply. Openers R. Neil (24) and J. Cann (21) made a good start but although Platt hit 40 and J. Richardson 25, they were unable to challenge the score.
Netherfield's Richardson completed a fine all-round display with 4-32.
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