NINE-MAN Dalton, not surprisingly, could not prevent Workington from being crowned North Lancs and Cumbria League Premier Division champions.

The West Cumbrians beat an under-strength Dalton by six wickets to claim their first championship since 2008 and seal a league and Higson Cup double.

Put into bat, Dalton were all out in the 38th over for 110, Jon Bell top scoring with 30. Workington’s Kaushalya Gajasinge took 3 for 16 in seven overs.

Workington openers Gajasinghe, 35, and Robbie Lambert , 25, gave them a good start and their side won in the 22nd over with 114 for 4.

Winning the toss and batting, only opener Mike Gadsden with 37 showed any form, and Furness found themselves 20 for 4 at home to Cockermouth.

But a good recovery was made with Kiwi pro Seth Rance making 60. And tail-enders Will Stanway and Luke Shaw took the score from 126 for 8, to 168 all out in what proved to be a vital contribution.

In reply Cockermouth openers Gareth White, with 49, and Alex Grainger, 35, gave them a good start and with 120 for 3 on the board, Cockermouth looked winners.

But the middle and lower orders made little contribution and the visitors were 161 all out. Rance completed his good day with 4 for 51 in 15 overs.

Keswick were in first at Whitehaven and Glen Weightman, with 100, and Geeth Kumara, 80, helped the visitors to 285 for 9 at tea. Habib Baloch, Callum Lofthouse, and David Watson each took three wickets. In reply opener David Watson made 73, but of the remainder only Baloch got past 20 and Whitehaven could only total 157 to be all out in the 45th over. Kumara took 4 for 40 in 11.2 overs, and Dan Gaskell 4 for 53 in his 15 overs.

In Division One Lindal Moor kept their title hopes alive with a 96-run victory at Kirkby but Carlisle remain in the driving seat after beating Seascale.

Carlisle decided to bat first and got a good start from openers Ben Davidson, 44, and James Lythgoe, 29.

And assisted by Alex Calmy’s 32 and Alex Raybould’s 31, they totalled 213 all out.

Seascale’s Andrew Knott and Danny Lee each took three wickets.

Seascale would be disappointed with their batting as they were all out in the 43rd over for 112. Opener Jack Stubbings was the top scorer with 27. Tom Carlyle, with 3 for 22, and Ruaindh Barker, 3 for 11, did the damage.

In first Workington A made 230 for 9 at Millom and despite a good run chase Millom just fell short of the win, being 202 all out in the 47th over.

Haverigg were at Ulverston where the home side batted first – but not for long – being 71 all out, and Haverigg went to a comfortble win

Division Two champions Vickerstown had a poor day with the bat, with only John Burns and Mark Humphries getting into double figures, both making 35 as they were all out for 129 against Cokcermouth A.

Andrew Dodds, 3 for 28, and Mark Middleton, 3 for 27, were the top wicket takers.

In reply Cockermouth skipper and opener Steve Chambers carried his bat for 53 to see his side home at 133 for 5.

With 43 from Mike Walker and 41 from Calvin Chapples, Dalton A were 135 for 9 when the overs ran out against Furness A, for whom Sam Stephens took 4 for 34 in his 15 overs.

In reply Furness won with 137 for 4 in the 34th over. Lew Gribbin made an unbeaten 47 and Tom Smith, 43.

Batting first against Cleator A, Lindal Moor A were all out in the 47th over for 131, Chris Moore making 43 and Paul Clarke 32. Alan Wishart returned 3 for 37 in 13 overs and Dave Glover, 3 for 38 in 10.4 overs.

In reply Cleator went to the win in 31 overs at 132 for 3, Graeme Lilley making 37 not out, and Mark Ponticelli, 32 not out.

Barrow moved into third place in the Northern Premier League Division One following a 68-run triumph over Morecambe at Ernest Pass.

Batting first, Indian pro Kaustubh Pawar led the way for Barrow with 57, ably supported by skipper Toby Mowat, 31, and Cumberland’s Sam Dutton, 34, as they made 167 all in 49.3 overs.

Daryl Wearing produced impressive figures of 3 for 18 in 13 overs and he was well supported by Javed Khan (4 for 30) and Pat Allington (2 for 10) as the visitors were shot out for 99.