PRO Calvin Savage hopes Furness can take a big step towards the North Lancs Premier Division title this weekend.

The South African all-rounder has played a big role as the club have risen to the summit of the table after a tricky start.

Savage has been among the runs and in the wickets – though a side injury has stopped him bowling of late – as the Oxford Street side have moved 15 points clear of second-placed Cockermouth.

With three games to go, starting at Wigton tomorrow, Furness need just 15 points to secure the defence of their crown.

Savage will miss the last of those matches – a potentially tricky affair at Cockermouth – and hopes to have everything sewn up by the time he flies back to the Southern Hemisphere.

There will be no return to Furness next year for the impressive pro, so he wants to go out on a high.

“I’m only here for the next two games, Wigton and Haverigg, then I go home” said Savage.

“We just need 15 points over the next three games. Hopefully we can get a good win against Wigton away – which is never easy, it’s quite difficult to win up there – and then against Haverigg at home.

“Haverigg have been struggling and, with the way we have been playing at home, hopefully we can get the win and then that should be us winning the league. Otherwise, it could be a bit of a tricky one at Cockermouth on the last day.”

He added: “I think the season has been really good. I know at first we lost a few games, but with the format changing to win-lose cricket, you are never going to go a whole season unbeaten like in the past.

“There used to be times when you could block out and take a losing draw. It’s never going to happen in this format where you have a perfect season.

“The league has been very strong after it was cut down from 12 to eight teams and I think three losses is a seriously good effort.”

Savage has contributed close to 800 runs to the Furness cause in the league this year, as well as taking more than 40 wickets. He hopes he is not finished yet.

“Hopefully I can get to 1,000 runs, which I would be extremely happy with in my first time out here, especially after I had a bit of a slow start,” he said.

“Bowling-wise, I’ve been injured the last few weeks, so the wickets have slowed down, but I already had 40 when that happened. If I wasn’t injured, I could have gone on to take 60 wickets and score 1,000 runs – that’s a good season in my opinion.”

Savage has already informed Furness he will not be back in the North Lancs League next season. He will return to South Africa and is looking to play in a different part of England in 2016. He has not ruled out a return further down the line, however, which would be a boost for the Oxford Street side.

Elsewhere tomorrow, Dalton travel to Workington A in Division One hoping to move closer to promotion and Millom head to Seascale needing victory to keep up their push in second spot.

The resignation of Lancercost from Division Two has moved Vickerstown to the summit ahead of Kirkby.

The Villagers – who have a game in hand – host Cockermouth A tomorrow, while Vickerstown are at home to Lindal Moor A. Wins would guarantee Vickertsown promotion and all but seal it for Kirkby.

In the Northern League, Barrow host Chorley at Ernest Pass hoping for a victory to lift them out of the bottom four following their home success over St Annes last weekend.

Sam Dutton hit a valuable 72 and professional Tharanga Paranavitana 51 in that win, while Gary Collins was the star of the show with the ball, taking 8 for 45.

Barrow hold their annual Lager Fest tomorrow, to coincide with the match. It will run from 1pm until late.

There will be entertainment in the evening, featuring Shed Sessions, with entrance costing £3, including the first bottle.

Furness play host to the County Cup final on Sunday, when Netherfield take on Cleator, while Lindal Moor A travel to Haverigg to play Cockermouth A in the Marsden Cup final.