WESTGATE can virtually put the champagne on ice with two games to go in the Westmorland League First Division.

Two wins over the Bank Holiday, plus a surprise defeat for second-placed Milnthorpe mean that the reigning champions need just one point from a possible 20 to retain their title.

On Saturday Westgate found the early going difficult in their home match with Ibis and after 30 overs were 59-3.

But a patient 34 by Nigel Parkinson and big hitting by Danny Wilkinson (41) and Dave Hughes (33) resulted in a final total of 143-8. Dave Johnston (2-14) was the pick of the Ibis bowlers.

Unfortunately for Ibis, Pete Wilson's batting failure spurred him on to bowl a superb line and length and he finishing with 9-11 as Ibis were all out for 45.

With Milnthorpe declaring at 150-6 then removing Heysham for 125 on Saturday the champion-ship looked like going to the last game, but on Monday Milnthorpe had a disaster, skittled out for just 68 by Warton who had batted first to make 159-9.

At the other end of the table Bare are relegated. On Saturday they were demolished for just 48 by mid-table Arnside, M. Brockbank taking 5-20 and S. Slater 5-12. On Monday they managed only 75-9 against Sedgwick, Simon Willacy taking 6-21, and were beaten by six wickets.

Ibis and Silverdale are involved in a dogfight to avoid the second relegation place.

Silverdale have a six-point advantage, but face two tough final matches against Westgate and Milnthorpe, while Ibis have the slightly easier run in against Warton and Bare.

On Monday Ibis saved what could be a potentially valuable point by hanging on for a losing draw against Shirehsead, who batted first and made 124-8, Colin Twiname hitting 50 while John Swidlehurst took 3-45.

Only Ken Coulston (26) reached double figures in the Ibis reply of 65-9. Mike Park was Shireshead's most successful bowler with 3-14.

Kirkby Lonsdale wrapped up the Second Division Championship in a run fest at Bolton-le-Sands.

Asked to bat, Kirkby made 2678-6. When S. Story (47) lost his wicket in the 32nd over it brought in Darren Troughton who hit 95, including 11 sixes, while Richard Shaw made 82.

Sands had a good go at the target and finished on 228-4. Baz Smith was the pick of the Kirkby bowlers, taking all four wickets.

The points for a winning draw, plus those for a rained off match on Saturday, were enough to clinch the title.

Ingleton need just three points from their remaining two games to be runners-up.

In Division Three the promotion places are between Milnthorpe A, Shireshead A and Windermere A and could largely depend on the outcome of tomorrow's clash between Windermere and Milnthorpe.

Arnside A and Holme are already relegated.

Ibis A clinched the Fourth division title by winning both their games at the weekend.

On Saturday they lost just one wicket in surpassing Bare A's 123-8 and on Monday beat Trimpell A, who scored just 33, by 10 wickets, Giles Holden taking (4-10) and Gary Murray (4-15).

The second promotion place is between Ambleside A and Barrow 3rd.