SHIRESHEAD celebrated their retention of the Westmorland Cricket League title the previous week with victory over Milnthorpe in the final game of the season.

Milnthorpe elected to bat first upon winning the toss but were soon in trouble at 15 for 3 as Simon Gould (3 for 28) took full advantage of a rare bowling opportunity.

Milnthorpe’s experimental batting line-up responded well with some fluent strokeplay from Bob Baldwin and Craig Postlethwaite before S Murphy (57) and Chris Baldwin (37) provided the backbone of the innings as both struck boundaries at will.

Phil Oliver (2 for 27) wrestled back some control before Dave Jack (4 for 61) wrapped the innings up for 202.

Jack fell to James Parkinson with the first ball of the Shireshead reply, and Gould and Steven Foy soon followed, leaving the score at 36 for 3 in the 10th over.

The third wicket brought Tom Jacques (72 not out) to the wicket to join Phil Bovis (93 not out) and the pair then added 168 in an unbeaten fourth wicket stand to take Shireshead to victory.

The pair hit 19 fours and four sixes between them in a partnership that gradually accelerated and brought the curtain down on a fine season for Shireshead.

In Division Two Carnforth finished as champions while Shireshead were runners up - finishing just two points behind.

Netherfield finished as champions in Division Three, while Shireshead and Bolton-le-Sands won the titles in Division Four and Five.