LAST Friday evening saw Arnside Cricket Club alive with activity as Allstars cricket was followed by the second match day of the new Westmorland Women’s Soft Ball Cricket League.

And the success of the twin event is testimony to the revival of club which just three years ago was struggling to survive.

At that point, the club suffered from a fate all to familiar for many small village clubs, with few juniors coming through, limited funding and players struggling to juggle family commitments with cricket.

The introduction of the Allstars programme changed that, with initially around 20 kids aged from 5-8 taking part.

That number has now risen to 45 and Arnside field now field regular U9s, U11s and U13s teams

But the club felt they could do more for the many ladies who attended with partners and families.

A soft ball cricket festival was held, and it proved such a success with so many of the women wanting to take up the sport regularly, it was decided to form a team.

There were actually enough numbers to cater for two teams, who initially played against each other on a weekly basis.

But as interest grew around the region, the Westmorland Women’s League was born and the Arnside teams jumped at the chance to join the competition.

The first set of games were held at Carnforth with the home side coming out on top against teams from Burneside and Netherfield as well as the Arnside team.

Arnside hosted the second meeting of the league last week which proved equally successful, with Carnforth again coming out on top, and the next meeting is at Burneside CC tomorrow, Friday.