ARNSIDE avenged their 2010 Hackney and Leigh Trophy final loss as they defeated rivals Burneside by 35 runs.

Last year Burneside retained their trophy with a six-wicket victory but Arnside claimed their first H&L trophy win since 1983 in superb style.

With in-form Kevin Howarth missing, it was Adam Richardson who did the damage with the bat.

A tight opening bowling spell saw Arnside struggle to 36 off the first 10 overs before No.3 batsman Richardson pushed on.

Supported by Mike Shepherd (20), Richardson held the innings together with a knock of 61 and they closed on 135 all out, with Chris Dixon (2-13) and Steve Airey (2-14) the pick of the bowlers.

A quick-fire start from youngster David Birch (3-13) had Arnside in control as he took three wickets and Burneside were squirming at 25-5 from nine overs.

David Batty did really well with 47 for the cup holders but Birch, supported by Chris Howsley (2-14) kept Arnside on the victory trail.

And when Alex Davidson clean bowled Russ Stewart the match was won in the penultimate over.

Captain Rob Shepherd said: “It is our first win since 1983 and it is just good to win one really. I have lost about 10 finals in recent years and it was a really good team effort, especially with Kevin missing.

“We are also still in the hunt for the league so it’s turning out to be a great season.”

Prior to their cup final heroics, Arnside closed the gap on leaders Warton ahead of their league meeting on Saturday with a 15-point victory against Silverdale.

Adrian Lee (47), Mike Shepherd (44) and Chris Howsley (22) set the hosts on their way to a competitive 162 all out with Paul Moffat (5-69) the best of the bowling attack.

But Rob Shepherd (5-17) was to chip in with five wickets of his own, supported by Matthew Brockbank (4-15) as Silverdale were all out for 57.

Warton bowled Heysham out for 102 as they earned 12 points in their quest for back to back titles and the win was rounded up when they made 106 without loss as Phil Bovis knocked an unbeaten 59.

Sedgwick edged clear of the danger zone by defeating troubled Windermere by 83 runs.

Mike Bracken (37), Nicky Dalzell (35) and Michael Sharp (35) took the hosts to 176 all out, with Stephen Carruthers (4-53) the pick of Silverdale’s bowling.

And Sharp (3-23) was to restrict the visitors as they struggled to 18-4, and despite Mike Lewthwaite knocking 42, they were all out for just 93.

Kirkby Lonsdale looked destined for the drop as they were bowled out for just 10 runs at Westgate.

Danny Wilkinson took 6-4 as the game only lasted 25 minutes with Westgate easing to 13-0 and 15 points.

Bolton le Sands had to settle for a winning draw at Burneside on Saturday as the hosts dug their heels in.

Sent in to bat, Sands’ openers Alan Cole (40) and Mike Wolfenden (18) were tested by Chris Dixon and Ben Leacock and only mustered 20 runs from the first 15 overs.

Boundaries started to come and they soon reached 50, but when the duo were out the innings started to fall away, with Sands struggling to 112 all out.

Burneside also found the runs hard to come by and Adam Dyson took four early victims as the hosts fell to 17-4.

Simon Little and Steve Cooper gave Burneside hope with a 30 partnership but Mark Clarkson took Cooper’s wicket and quickly followed up with a yorker to dismiss Ellwood.

Little (23no) was to defy Clarkson (3-14) in the final over as Burneside finished on 64-9.

A collision between Ryan Wells and Lawrence Singh saw both Shireshead players carted off to hospital as Milnthorpe earned a five wicket victory.

Shires raced to 143 with Uzair Shah (36) and Paul Yates putting on 35 for the second wicket, before 17-year-old debutant James Roberts knocked 31.

Mike Park helped Roberts build the innings with an unbeaten 30 but Mike Curran’s (6-25) bowling was to limit the hosts.

In reply Milnthorpe were 51-4 when Singh and Wells collided and the incident changed the game.

The experienced duo of Jono Cooper (46) and Mike Wills (37no) helped them close the match out at 147-5.

Trimpell kept pace with the leaders in Division 2 as S Pemberton struck 101 not out in their home win against Burneside on Saturday, while Holme’s Ian Betley took eight wickets in Division 3 as they skittled Barrow for just 14.