Last updated at 16:54, Friday, 08 June 2012

FURNESS batsman Tom Smith has been rewarded for his fine early-season form with a call-up to the North Lancashire and Cumbria League representative side.

CALL-UPS: Furness CC batsman Tom Smith (left) and Haverigg’s Jordan Postlethwaite are named in the North Lancs League senior XI

The left-handed opening bat joins Furness team-mates Mark Daly and Pete Lawson in the North Lancs team for their Kookaburra Reader Inter-league Competition opener against the Manchester Association.

There is also a call-up for Haverigg batsman and off-spinner Jordan Postlethwaite, and the team will travel south for Sunday’s first round away game with a new skipper in charge – Workington’s hard-hitting New Zealander Simon Beare.

Familiar faces in the team – who were beaten finalists last year – are Beare’s Workington team-mates Matt Gorley and Callum and Kristian Moffat, and Millom skipper Simon Bickerstaffe.

But Bickerstaffe’s fellow St George’s Road all-rounder, Graham Dawson, will not be involved as he lines up for Cumberland in their Minor Counties Eastern Division three-day opener against Staffordshire, which starts on Sunday at Ernest Pass.

The side are also missing two players who have been regulars in the league XI in recent years – ex-Furness skipper Stuart Horne (who has moved to Scotland) and former Penrith ace Nicky Burns (who is now playing Northern Premier League cricket for Barrow).

The North Lancs under-18s will begin their Kookaburra inter-league campaign with a home game against the Central Lancashire League – the team they shared the 2011 title with.

They lock horns at Furness CC on Sunday, with local lads Garry Thompson (Furness), Jack Cumberbatch (Lindal Moor) and Chris Savage (Hawcoat Park) named in the team (1.30pm start).

North Lancs Senior XI: Simon Beare (Workington, captain); Simon Bickerstaffe (Millom); Mark Daly (Furness); Matt Gorley (Workington); Chris Hodgson (Cockermouth); Pete Lawson (Furness); Callum Moffat (Workington, wicketkeeper); Kristian Moffat (Workington); Jordan Postlethwaite (Haverigg); Chris Quin (Cleator); Tom Smith (Furness).

Under-18s: Nick Watt (Wigton); Jack Cumberbatch (Lindal Moor); Garry Thompson (Furness); Ben Sharp (Keswick); Sam Scully (Cockermouth); Greg Hall (Penrith); Michael Clarke (Penrith); Jake Daniel (Workington); Matt lowden (Workington); Angus Carruthers (Cockermouth); Chris Savage (Hawcoat Park); Michael Slack (Carlisle).

First published at 13:16, Friday, 08 June 2012
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