SHIRESHEAD and Forton tasted victory in the final of the Hackney and Leigh trophy in a pulsating win over rivals Westgate at picturesque Silverdale.

The North Lancashire outfit chased down their counterparts, who posted 120-7 in their 25 overs, in sodden conditions to win by three wickets.

The game was always likely to be a keenly contested affair given the close season move of Westmorland legend Peter Wilson from Westgate to Shireshead.

And it was Shireshead who won the toss as skipper Paul Yates put Westgate into bat.
Westgate began steadily as Andy Hill, 21, and Garry Tattersall, 30, raced to 61 for the first wicket.

But Shireshead bowlers were in control and gave the batters no easy running opportunities - as 14 of the 25 8-ball overs were eaten up. Inevitably, the push for runs in the latter part of the innings came and it brought a clatter of Westgate wickets.

But the dangerous Danny Wilkinson, 29, mixed sensible defence with hard-hitting to post a defendable target in trying conditions.

The Shireshead run chase began badly as Nick Rafferty fell early, but worse was to follow as Tom Jacques and Wilson also fell - sparking wild scenes of celebration.

When Phil Oliver also departed in the same over to an incredible one-handed catch by Tattersall, Westgate sensed victory.

But man of the match Simon Gould, joined by his skipper Yates, took to the crease with the score at 22-4 and turned the match on its head.

The two left-handers added 69, including four 6s and five 4s from Gould, to change the face of the game.

Yates, 18 not out, was at his best and together they took Shireshead to a winning position.

The fall of Gould brought a nervy ending as two more wickets fell, but the skipper was there at the finish as the burly Stephen Yates finished the game with a towering six off Conroy to secure a memorable victory with 10 balls to spare.