REGULARS from two Furness pubs swapped their pints for cricket bats to take part in a fiercely-contested cricket competition.

More than £250 was raised for the Barrow Lifeboat through a charity cricket match between the General Burgoyne from Great Urswick and The Wellington Inn from Loppergarth for the RNLI Cup at Lindal Moor Cricket Club on Saturday.

This is the second time the cup has been played, with the Burgoyne out for revenge after the Wellington took the trophy last year.

On a perfect day for cricket at the Pennington Lane ground, The Burgoyne won the toss and asked the Welly to bat first.

Thanks to Glen Morris with 37 and Dai Humphreys with 25, the Welly posted a competitive total of 138 in their 30 overs.

Ethan Baxter with 3-12 and Ashton with 3 for 23 were the pick of the bowlers for the Burgoyne.

After a refreshment break the Burgoyne had a poor start with Tom Smith taking two wickets in the first over.

The Welly bowlers looked to have too much for the Burgoyne until John Townend came to the crease to begin the counter attack.

He was joined by number 10 Paul Clarke and the pair took the Burgoyne to 115 before Townend became another of Smith's victims being bowled for 30.

Clarke tried in vain to see the Welly home and added another 15 runs before finding himself stranded on 35 not out when his partner was brilliantly caught by Marshall off the bowling of Jason Milby. The Burgoyne came up eight runs short, finishing their innings on 130.

Lifeboat Helmsman Andy Baxter presented the RNLI cup to the owner of the Wellington, Darren

Healey, who said: "It's great to retain the cup but most of all today was about having some fun and raising some money for the Lifeboat.

"The lads have had a great day and have been well looked after by the cricket club."

Losing captain Brian Hazlehurst, landlord of the General Burgoyne, added: "We came with a young side but they performed really well. We've had a great time and we can't wait to try again next year."

After the match Tony Wallace from Lindal Moor Cricket Club presented the proceeds from the barbeque, a raffle and an auction to Stephanie Moore from the Barrow branch of the Lifeboat Women's Guild.