FURNESS CC's deadly accurate Kiwi seamer Seth Rance stormed to top spot in the North Lancs and Cumbria League bowling averages.

The Wellington-born professional claimed 68 victims at a cost of just eight runs apiece to win the Premier Division bowling charts.

Rance's heroics with the ball couldn't prevent Furness from losing their grip on the North Lancs crown however, with Workington remaining unbeaten all season to take the title.

The West Cumbrians' domination was in no small part due to the all-round excellence of their Sri Lankan pro Kaushalya Gajasinghe who finished second in the batting and bowling averages.

Gajasinghe scored 704 runs at an average of 54.15 to finish behind his fellow countryman and Keswick pro Geeth Kumara, who amassed 807 runs at 57.64. The Workington pro also took 30 wickets at 12.43 each to complete an exceptional summer for the champions.

Dalton managed to keep their heads above water in their first season back in the top flight, and helping them avoid the drop was batsman Jack Singleton, who scored 484 runs at 44.

Fellow left-hander Ryan Griffiths was the pick of the Furness batsmen, the talented youngster scoring 424 runs at 30.29.

Lindal all-rounder Mark Daly shone in the Division One averages. Like Gajasinghe did in the Premier Division, Daly finished second in both the batting and bowling charts. The former Furness ace scored 728 runs at 60.67 and claimed 40 victims at 10.63.

Daly wasn't the only Lindal man to feature in both sets of averages, with fellow North Lancs League XI player Ed Waind taking 35 wickets at 11.43 and hitting 484 runs at 32.27.

Two other players to feature in both batting and bowling charts were Millom's Mr Consistent Graham Dawson and Ulverston's Stuart Cooper.

The Division One batting averages were dominated by Haverigg's brilliant West Indian pro Dalton Polius who smashed 1,203 runs at 85.93. The St Luician also grabbed 37 wickets at 14.49.

Polius's young Poolside team-mate Dale Graham will be pleased with his efforts - 40 wickets at 12.18 - and so will Lindal's wily left-arm spinner John Atkinson - 42 wickets at 12.26.

The divisional bowling averages were won by Aussie pace ace Alex Calmy of champions Carlisle, whose 56 wickets at 9.52 led the Edensiders to promotion.

Elsewhere, James Thornton had a fine season with the bat for Kirkby, hitting 740 runs at 41.11.

Vickerstown skipper Gareth Benson helped his side take the Division Two title by plundering 50 wickets at 11.74, well supported by rookie George Scott (32 victims at 15.78).

Hawcoat Park's Callum Lucas had an outstanding year at the crease with 565 runs at 37.67, with Rainey Park duo Matt Roskell and Craig Daly and Furness' George Smith also performing well.