FURNESS’S hopes of retaining the North Lancs And Cumbria League championship crown are hanging by a thread following a comprehensive defeat at leaders Workington, writes COLIN BICKERSTAFFE.

The West Cumbrians completed a league double over Scott Pearcey’s side to open up a commanding gap at the top of the Premier Division table.

Batting first, Furness were shocked to find themselves 7 for 3, then 30 for 4, and 61 for 8. Ryan Tyson, with a defiant 36, was last man out for the visitors, with his side totalling 98 all out.

Workington’s opening bowlers, Matt Lowden, with 3 for 26 in 11 overs, and Andrew Ireland, 3 for 38 in 15 overs, put Workington in the driving seat and Simon Beare, 3 for 19 in 6.5 overs, finished the job.

In reply both Workington openers were removed by Seth Rance for three runs. But Kaushalya Gajasinghe, 58 not out, and Callum Moffatt, also unbeaten, on 33, saw Workington to a winning 99 for 2 in 29.1 overs.

Dalton had first knock at home to Cleator and were 208 for 8 at tea. Mike Hargreaves top scored with 62 and Jack Singleton made 34. Cleator’s Darren Clark took 4 for 29.

Darrel Brown’s 83 saw Cleator get the win at 211 for 8 in the 49th over. Tony Butler took 3 for 53 in 14 overs.

Visitors Wigton batted first at bottom club Whitehaven and ran up a mammoth 281 for 6.

Professional Mike Slack made 71 and Nick Watt 60. In reply the home team’s batting again fell well short of the target to be all out for 107.

Keswick, in first at Cockermouth, failed with the bat, except professional Geeth Kumara who made 55 of the all-out total of 123.

Cockermouth cruised to the win making 127 for 2 in 23 overs. Theo Valeri, Matthew Sempill, and Sam Sharp all got into the 30s.

At Edenside, Division One leaders Carlisle were again in form with the bat, posting 223 for 5 in their 50 overs. Ben Davidson scored 101 not out and captain Marc Brown made 65.

Ulverston never really got going with the bat to be all out in the 33rd over for 99, of which Ben Dryden made 39. Carlisle’s Alex Calmy continued his wicket-taking spree taking 5 for 29.

Winning the toss against Kirkby, Haverigg decided to bat and after their 50 overs were 248 for 4. West Indian professional Dalton Polius made 84 and Jordan Postlethwaite 44. Kirkby battled hard but were all out in the last over for 169.

Put into bat, Seascale lost an early wicket but the rest of the top order, Jack Stubbings, Joe Hammond and Adam Brown, all got into the 40s. And a late flourish by skipper Steve Brown jnr, with 35 not out, saw Seascale to 228 for 7 when overs ran out.

Millom’s reply never recovered from a bad start and only skipper Mike Wilson, batting at number eight, made 47, and Aiden Van de Vyver, at number ten, with 30 not out, gave the Seascale attack any problems and Millom were all out for 185 in the 45th over. Steve Brown jnr took 4 for 43 in 13 overs.

Title-chasing Lindal Moor had first knock against Workington, and were all out in 44 overs for 208. Workington made a good effort going for the runs but were 170 all out in 48 overs.

Lindal’s wily left-arm spinner John Atkinson reached a magical personal milestone taking his 1,000th wicket for his club. This is a great accomplishment for an unassuming gentleman both on and off the field, and there are still more wickets to come as he is having a good season.

Put into bat, Dalton A had a bad day at Cleator A in their Division Two match and were all out for 67 in 35 overs. Cleator went to a comfortable win, making 69 for 3 in the 26th over.

Batting first, Furness A gave, perhaps, their best performance of the season to be 282 for 7 in 50 overs, Tom Smith making 120 and Sam Hilton, 80. After tea leaders Vickerstown were always well behind the required run rate and were all out for 156. Dean Litherland made 47.

Home side Egremont batting first against Cockermouth, batted fairly steadily all down the innings to be 169 for 9 in 50 overs. Alex Hodgson top scored with 58 not out. Cockermouth’s Jack Spiers took 4 for 44 in 15 overs. In reply only Cockermouth opener Jack Mason with 28 kept the Egremont attack at bay and they were all out in the 40th over for 91. Stephen Holliday took 3 for 14 in 13 overs.

Home side Hawcoat Park were in first against Lindal Moor and were all out in 44 overs for 154. Moor would be disappointed with their batting and were all out for 114 in the 37th over.

Barrow cemented their Northern League top-four standing with a comfortable eight-wicket win at Netherfield. It was a great day for skipper Toby Mowat, whose innings of 78 not out provided the backbone of a successful run chase after the home side had been bowled out for 161 in the 50th over.

Javed Khan led the way with the ball, taking 4 for 24, with Daryl Wearing, Gary Collins and Greg Reynolds all chipping in with two victims apiece. Opener Mowat was well supported by Reynolds (54 not out) as Barrow reached 164 for the loss of just two wickets.

It was not such a good day for Barrow A at home to Netherfield after the visitors had posted 152 for 7, Paul Riley taking 4 for 39. Only veteran Robin Adams, with 34 not out, got going for Barrow as they were dismissed for 87.