Brave fight by 'Sands (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Brave fight by 'Sands

9:27am Friday 24th August 2007 in

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UNDERDOGS Bolton-le-Sands nearly pulled off a shock in the Hackney and Leigh Trophy final, but in the end it was the Westgate terriers who clung on tenaciously to snatch victory with just four balls to spare.

Bolton-le-Sands...120-9 - Westgate...............121-7...

Winning the toss, 'Sands elected to bat first on the rain-soaked pitch at Warton and contributions were made by all the batsmen despite none of them going on to make a big score.

Westgate openers Saed Patel (1-11) and Danny Wilkinson (2-25) kept a tight rein on the batsmen, but A. Cole (13) and Bob Clarkson (34) added 34 for the third wicket before Cole was bowled by A. Hill (1-23).

Steve Creed (3-24) demolished the tail, but T. Millet (14) ensured a defendable total of 120-9 for the First Division strugglers.

In response Westgate made the worst possible start as A. Dyson (2-12) took two wickets in his first four balls to have Westgate reeling on 0-2.

Clarkson (1-15) kept the lid on things at the other end, but Westgate repaired some of the damage though R. Hill (11) and Wilkinson (20).

They both the fell to talented youngster Martin Clarkson (2-31) and Westgate were again in trouble at 46-4 in the 12th over.

A gutsy innings of 14 from A, Hill and a captain's knock of 40 by N. Parkinson brought the biggest stand of the match.

Hill then fell to a rash stroke but A. Wilson (11) and Parkinson (41 not out) saw Westgate home in the final over of an excellent final.

n A WASHOUT weekend has heightened the tension at the top of Division One.

Of the two main protagonists second-placed Shireshead were probably the happiest in the rain, as they missed a difficult match with fourth-placed Milnthorpe whereas leaders Warton would have hoped for big points against fifth- bottom Arnside.

This weekend the advantage could very well turn on the spin of the coin.

Warton would appear to be strong favourites away at Burneside on Saturday and home to lowly Ibis on Bank Holiday Monday, while the form book says that Shireshead, at home to Heysham on Saturday and away at bottom club Bolton-le-Sands on Monday, should also be double winners.

Winning the toss has high importance as the option of batting first can yield 15 points for a win as against 12 for winning batting second.

If either of the top two slip up Westgate, 17 points off the pace, and ten points behind Shireshead, could close the gap. They play Windermere away on Saturday and Burneside at home on Monday.

All in all it adds up to a potentially exciting and close end to the season in September. Warton's last three games will be: Windermere (away), Westgate (away) and Milnthorpe (home).

Shireshead have: Arnside (home), Kirkby Lonsdale (away) and Sedgwick (away).

Westgate's run in is: Milnthorpe (away), Warton (home) and Ibis (home).

n BOTH last weekend's junior cup finals fell victim to waterlogged pitches.

In the Under 16 Cup competition Kendal, who overcame Lancaster in Friday night's semi-final, will play Milnthorpe, who ran out easy winners against Trimpell in the other semi-final. The replay will start at 4pm today (Friday) at Silverdale CC. The under-13 final between Shireshead and Netherfield has been re scheduled for Friday, August 31, at Heysham CC. 4pm start. Tonight (6pm) Netherfield and Morecambe under-11s play off for the Jessie Lockwood League Championship at Torrisholme CC.