Results turnaround - 'thanks to grand old lady of Warton' (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Results turnaround - 'thanks to grand old lady of Warton'

7:40pm Wednesday 15th September 2010 in Westmorland League By Patrick O'Kane, Senior News/Sport Reporter

THE divine intervention of a former club scorer helped Warton Cricket Club overturn the odds and win the Westmorland Cricket League on Saturday, according to some of its players.

The club were lying fourth in the league ahead of the final day, and needed Milnthorpe, Shireshead and Westgate to all lose to stand any chance of claiming the title.

But that was exactly what happened and a one wicket win for Warton against Kirkby Lonsdale secured the title.

Club captain Graeme Crowther dedicated the match victory to the late Betty Nicholson, who died in hospital on Thursday, after being a scorer for the club’s second team for 32 years.

“We owe it to Betty Nicholson who scored for us for many years,” he said.

“It really felt as if Betty was looking down on us and we did the business for her.”

Mrs Nicholson’s daughter, Margaret Davy, was asked to score in the first team’s final game as a mark of respect for her mother’s service to the club, and a minute’s silence was held prior to the match start.

Mrs Davy said: “Mum was very much looking down on us on Saturday, especially when the results started coming through.

“We went out in the morning fourth and very much expected to finish there, but I think she had a word with ‘him upstairs’.

“It was nice to be at Warton on Saturday as the last match mum helped at was at Sedgwick last season – where the second team played on Saturday – and that would have been too emotional for me.”

When Mrs Nicholson fell ill last year, Mrs Davy took over, and now expects to continue when the new season gets started in April.

“Mum was very outgoing and loved her cricket and she did a lot of other things for charity,” she said.

“She went to church on a regular basis and was a churchwarden at St John’s in Yealand. She enjoyed gardening but loved being involved at Warton so I feel I should probably keep going for her.”

Club president Colin Bolton paid tribute to Mrs Nicholson’s devotion to the club. He said: “Betty has done everything she can for the club and was a loyal servant. She was always at the games and was a grand lady.

“She loved Warton CC and would have loved to have been there on Saturday but I’m sure she was watching somewhere.”

Mrs Nicholson’s funeral will be held at St John’s Church, Yealand, on Wednesday, September 22, at 2pm.