THIS has been an extremely competition week for the Westmorland League and one that has been difficult to predict in 2022 with only 11 points separating the top 5 teams, with pre-season favourites Shireshead and Heysham not far behind and both with a game in hand.

Leaders Sedgwick suffered an unexpected defeat at home to Warton who they bowled out for 64 with Tom Barnfield (37) showing what a class act he is. No other batter made double figures as the League’s leading wicket taker Jonny Matthews took a career best 8/36.

It was to no avail as Shaun Partridge (5/15) and Graeme Crowther (3/13) rampaged through the home side’s batting dismissing them for 51 in the 30th over.

Westgate were indebted to their emerging star Joe Bradshaw who powered to 56 from only 41 balls hitting 4 fours and 4 sixes against Kendal 2nds. Kendal’s overseas amateur Thomas Suker (5/14) maintained his good form and Eve Thomas took 4/28 as Westgate lost their last 6 wickets for 27 to finish on 130. Dylan Conroy was in a ruthless mood and took 7/27 as Kendal were all out for 58, last man Doug Yarker top scoring with 17. Arnside beat Kirkby Lonsdale by 116 runs, and are level on points with Westgate in second, but have played a game more. Alex Davidson (43), Mike Shepherd (38) and Lee Illingworth (31) were the main contributors to 219, James Royce taking 3/36. Jim Crawford took 3/22 as Kirkby Lonsdale replied with 103, Ben Ferguson made an unbeaten 34.

Tom Jacques (32) and Joe Cunliffe (27) added 64 for the first wicket against Heysham, but thereafter wickets fell regularly to Shireshead old boy Josh Smethurst (3/62) and Graeme Cassidy (5/49) and it took a muscular 36 from 20 balls from Dave Jack to lift the total to 156. Jack (4/41) and Jacques (3/35) had Heysham in trouble at 57/6 when Andy Hill (30) was out lbw.

Heysham’s last chance was Cassidy who blasted 6 sixes in his 67 despite all the outfielders being placed on the boundary. Heysham still needed 22 when having survived one chance Jake Agar caught Cassidy in the deep. Trimpell, with Paul Thompson (41) and Michael Bland (34) posted 142/7 against fellow strugglers, Milnthorpe, Andy Thomas taking 3/53 against one of his former clubs.

Gaurang Agrawal (4/24) made early incisions into Milnthorpe’s batting, but a composed 56 from Mike Wills kept Milnthorpe in the game, but the last pair had to negotiate the final 9 balls, with Milnthorpe 11 short of victory. Burneside’s game at Sedbergh School was rained off on Sunday.

The Holme juggernaut keeps rolling and the 10 times WCL winners, but not since 1977, are 15 points clear in Division 2 after beating Shireshead 2nds by 93 runs. Richard Herron (53) and former Barrow player Robin Adams (46) top scored in 177/8. Paul Yates took 4/29, but Shireshead had no answer to Lee Barnes (5/28) and were all out for 84. Coniston scored 197/8 with Chris Lavery scoring 54 and Dan Askew 39. Their total was overhauled by Sedgwick seconds thanks to a brilliant maiden century from Tom Willacy, who hit 14 fours and 6 sixes in his 126.

Club statisticians are poring over old scorebooks to see if father George or uncle Simon ever scored so many in an innings.

Silverdale replace Coniston in second place. After Jon Mason (28) and Robert Reghelini (27) were dismissed by Sunil Naikwadi (5/38) only Jack Dougan’s 24 not out got them to 134. It was enough as Rob Letcher’s 4/29 bowled Westgate 2nds out for 91. Carnforth 2nds gained their first win of the season beating Ingleton by 5 wickets as Adam Hornby (35), Kieran Saunders (73) and Glenn Russell (45) chased down 173 in 35 overs. Graham Kellett (66) and Matthew France (51) both scored fifties for Ingleton, whilst Will Mead took 3/48 for Carnforth.

There was a true all round performance by Cartmel captain Joe Cowperthwaite who on his birthday top scored with 28 in his side’s below par 90. He then proceeded to take 6/19 receiving good support from Stuart Bailey (4/14) as Windermere were all out for 35. Will Aspinwall had taken 4/30 for Windermere, and Dan Sykes 3/43. Netherfield 3rds beat Ambleside by 6 wickets.

The big game in Division 3 saw Morecambe 3rds travel to Galgate. Morecambe made 119 with Kevin Demain top scoring with 26 as Chris Beales (4/23) and Rob Speak (4/25) bowled well. Galgate were indebted to Matthew Cooper’s 38 not out as they won by 2 wickets to leapfrog Morecambe into second place in the table.

Heysham 2nds sit top of the table beating Carnforth 3rds by 9 wickets, Dave Parker taking 5/14 and Harry Wallbank 3/37 as Carnforth made 83. Chris Boak (24 not out) and Stu Powers (42) secured the win. Kieran Fallows (32) aided Arnside 2nds to reach 129, with Keith Singleton taking 5/9 for Milnthorpe 2nds and James Heddle 3/27. Milnthorpe could only make 112 in reply, Lee Pidgeon taking 3/20 and Chris Myers 3/19.

In recent times, Holme 2nds have been perennial strugglers avoiding relegation on technicalities, but are threatening mid-table security this season. Leven Valley could only make 99 and Andy Cotton (31) and James Bennett (46 not out) secured a 6 wicket win.

Mark Brickles (36) and John Carter (28) gave Bolton le Sands a good start, but David Hones (3/33) and James Wright (3/38) stopped them from capitalising. Wright made 35 and Jack Belcher (66 not out) as Silverdale 2nds overhauled Sands’ 148/8 with just 4 balls to spare.

Trimpell 2nds beat Kendal 3rds by 4 wickets.

In Division 4, Simon Brown took 5/13 and there were two wickets for Rowan Yates on debut in senior cricket as Shireshead 3rds restricted Kirkby Lonsdale 2nds to 137 after Niall Parkinson (40) and Dan Teasdale (41) had added 82 for the first wicket. Ben Brown (34) and Stan Collinson (63 not out) took Shireshead to a 7 wicket win. Oliver Sayer (44) and Henry Sanders (34 not out) helped Sedbergh School 3rds make 204/8. Matt Young took 3/37 and then top scored with 22 as Ingleton replied with 82, Sayer taking 3/9 and Alfie Sanosi 3/3.

Adam Horrobin made 47 in Morecambe 3rds 120/8, Cam Hankey taking 3/22 for Sedgwick 3rds before the rain came, and there was no play in the other games.

In the Hackney & Leigh Trophy Westgate beat Warton, Shireshead beat Heysham, and Burneside are the first confirmed quarter-finalists beating Arnside. Kirkby Lonsdale v Milnthorpe was rained off as was the Kendal Sports Trophies tie between Ambleside and Windermere.

On Sunday, Heysham were the first side to represent the Westmorland League in the Lancashire Cup.

They faced the daunting prospect of a trip to Norden who finished third in the Lancashire League in 2021. Heysham reduced them to 67/5, but if they had taken their catches it could have been 25/5 with former Lancashire 2nd team batter Josh Tolley one escapee missed on 1, and going on to score 83. Jamie Cassidy bowled former Essex and Sussex star Ashar Zaidi for just 1.

Restricting Norden to 187 was some feat with three wickets apiece for Graeme and Jamie Cassidy, and Sam Calverley. Lewis Plackett (27) and Lee Calverley (31) got them off to a great start with 54 for the first wicket in just 14 overs, but Zaidi (2/9) pegged them back and they were eventually all out for 123. A great performance by the Westmorland League team, but not without some “if onlies”.