SHIRESHEAD extended their lead at the summit of Division One with a 49 run victory over nearest rivals Heysham.

Upon winning the toss Shireshead elected to bat but struggled for fluency against the line and length of Sam Calverley who took 2-42 from his 17 over spell.

Four of the top five made double figures but none went on to make a score to build the innings round.

Steve Yates (25) and Dave Jack took the game forward aggressively, with Yates smashing three massive sixes, but when they both fell it was left to Uzair Shah (28 not out) and Rowan Upton to add 33 to ensure a competitive 158-9 was posted at tea.

The Heysham reply was a tense affair as Heysham knew they needed to make inroads into Shireshead’s 30 point lead at the top of the table.

Danny Wilkinson and Peter Wilson (3 for 34) worked hard to ensure progress was difficult and removed both opening batsmen in the process, but Andy Powers and Andy Iddeson (22) added 27 carefully to keep the game balanced nicely.

The introduction of Shah (2-19) and Jack (2-28) provided no respite for the Heysham batsmen as they bowled with aggression and control and the innings began to stall at 80-6.

A contribution from young leg-spinner Rowan Upton (2-11) proved decisive before Wilson took the final wicket and clinched victory in the penultimate over.

Elsewhere an unbeaten 105 from Graeme Beaumont was not enough for Bolton-le-Sands as they continue to search for their first win of the season.

The club sit firmly bottom of the table and lost to sixth-placed Arnside by two wickets.

The closest match of the division was between Westgate and Milnthorpe with the latter coming out victors by just four runs.

Opener Mike Wills top scored with 47 for Milnthorpe, who made 160 all out, while G.Tattersal starred with the bowl taking 4-46 off 11 overs.

In reply Westgate, helped by useful knocks by Andy Hill and Craig Buchanan came agonisingly close to the target but were eventually bowled out for 156 off 43.2 overs.

Meanwhile Warton’s Ryan Nelson and Graeme Crowther scored highly in their 102 run win over Sedgwick while Paul Moffat’s 5-32 helped Silverdale on their way to a five wicket victory over Windermere.

In Division Two league leaders Bare recorded their tenth win of the season in a comprehensive 107 run win over third bottom Westgate.

John Sharman, Frank Smith and Tom Schad all scored half-centuries as Bare declared on 251-3 before bowling the opposition out for 144.

Elsewhere second-placed Shireshead kept up the pressure with an 88 run win over Heysham while Coniston and Cartmel had to settle for six points a piece in a rain affected draw.

Carnforth remain streaks ahead of the chasing pack in Division Three after a convincing nine wicket win over Sedgwick while Sedbergh lost for the 13th time away at Arnside.

Luke Deveney’s 52 helped Leven Valley to a four wicket victory over basement club Bolton-le-Sands in Division Four while Brandon Hunt’s unbeaten 97 saw Netherfield defeat Shireshead in a result that keeps them ahead of local rivals Kendal.

Just the one fixture in Division Five this week saw top club Morecambe record a comfortable 99 run win Netherfield.