A SNEAK-THIEF who stole goods and money worth £1,000 from the Kirkby Lonsdale dressing-room spoiled the Milnthorpe Taxi Services Trophy (Division) Cup final.

The incident happened while Kirkby, the newly-crowned Division Two champions who were seeking the league and cup double, were in the field, restricting Westgate A to 105 at Milnthorpe's Park Road ground on Sunday.

In a low-scoring game with the ball not coming on to the bat, Kirkby were left wanting 14 off the final over and managed only three as they finished 95 all out.

Westgate's Saeed Patel took 3-19 off his five overs, his last two only going for five, but it team-mate Ian Fisher who earned the man of the match award for his knock of 29.

All of the Kirkby bowlers performed well, with Barry Smith the pick of them with 3-20, but the theft, which police are investigating, could not have helped their performance with the bat.

n WESTGATE have taken the Westmorland League First Division title for the third time in five years.

While Westgate have a "result wicket" at Cross Hill Park, it sometimes rebounded on them as they lost three home matches, but they did not lose any of their away games which was the key to their success.

Kingpins of the effort were Peter Wilson, whose effort with bat and ball has been matched this season by colleague Danny Wilkinson.

Both men have taken more than 70 wickets and scored over 500 runs in all competitions.

They confirmed the title with a 29-run victory over Silverdale, but the result plunges Silverdale into a difficult final match against Division One runner-up Milnthorpe tomorrow.

Bottom sides Ibis and Bare play each other and a 10-point win for either side could take them above Silverdale if Milnthorpe beat them.

In Division Two Ingleton are promoted as runners-up behind Kirkby Lonsdale after their six-wicket victory over already-relegated Carnforth A. Andrew Kellett did the damage with a sparkling 6-25 as Carnforth A were dismissed for 84. Ingleton then strolled to a winning 85-4.

The second relegation place will also go to the last day of the season, although Burneside A, on 78 points, seem to have an easier task against mid-table Trimpell than Coniston, 75 points, who must face champions Kirkby Lonsdale.

Shireshead A and Milnthorpe A have won promotion for Division Three, but with only four points between the two sides the championship rests on their final games.

Bottom side Holme's 130-run victory on Saturday ensures that their opponents Arnside A also go down to Division Four.

Ibis A have taken the Division Four title by just two points from Ambleside A, whose walkover victory at Bentham clinched the runners-up place.