Junior Cricket By Nigel Clubley

Last updated 11:51, Wednesday, 03 September 2008

ANOTHER weekend of poor weather meant that only one of the planned Cumbria Junior Cricket League finals was able to proceed and it saw Penrith Gold Under-15s clinch the overall league title for the second successive year.

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Penrith Gold Under 15s with the trophy

On the Saturday, Penrith and Workington senior teams had played out a thrilling game that ultimately saw Workington win by the narrowest of margins - one wicket wicket - to retain the North Lancs League title.

Twenty four hours later it was the turn of the clubs’ under-15 teams to demonstrate the wealth of junior talent that exists, not only within both clubs, but within the league as a whole.

Penrith and Workington Under-15s had each won their respective regional leagues to reach the overall play-off which saw Penrith bat first in damp conditions – a wet outfield likely to impair the bowling team.

Workington’s Andrew Ireland was the first to strike in the very first over taking the useful wicket of Penrith opener Glen Atkinson. Ireland and his opening bowling partner, Jack Burgess, proceeded to keep a lid on Penrith’s scoring and at the halfway mark Penrith had not reached 40.

Ireland finished with figures of 1 for 12 from his four overs.

Jack Dulson and Jordan Ruddick gradually built the Penrith total before Dulson was caught and bowled by Workington skipper Jonny Irving for 23 as he tried to accelerate the score.

That brought Penrith’s captain Nicky Birtle to the crease and he, together with Ruddick, moved the score onto 66 in rapid time, hitting two sixes and three fours. Ruddick was finally dismissed for 19, bowled by Ryan Clubley with Birtle retiring on 30.

Penrith’s innings finally closed on 105 for 7 as the push for late runs saw a further four wickets fall - two more for Clubley and two run outs.

After a couple of breaks for rain, Workington set about chasing down the target but progress was slow as Penrith’s opening attack of Dulson and Ruddick quickly found a good off-stump line which, with their pace, offered few scoring opportunities for Workingtons opening bats Jake Daniel and Liam Ryan.

Dulson’s spell of 4 overs went for just 7 runs.

First change bowlers Nicky Birtle and Jack Winter carried on the good work with Winter taking the wickets of both openers - Liam Ryan caught behind and Daniel trapped LBW. Birtle claimed the vital wicket of Workington’s hard hitting Jonny Irving (caught & bowled)

By the 14th over the run rate had risen to 10 an over and whilst Andrew Ireland and Matthew McClure did their best to up the scoring tempo, the total was always going to be just beyond Workington’s reach, with their innings closing on 76 for 6.

Penrith’s captain Nicky Birtle was presented with the league trophy and will be hoping that this is one of three titles for the Tynefield Park club - they have already won the County Cup and will be hoping to retain the League Cup if and when the weather allows the final to be played.

Next weekend hopefully sees all the remaining finals played although the forecast is again not looking that promising.

Finals and venues are as follows:

September 7: TBA - Under 15 League Cup Final (Cockermouth Gold v Penrith Gold, Venue TBA)

Under 11 League Cup Final (Carlisle Green v Whitehaven Blue, Threlkeld 10.30am)

Under 13 League Cup Final (Cockermouth Gold v Carlisle Green, Threlkeld 1.30pm)

Under 15 Division 1 Play Off (Cockermouth Green v Penrith Green, Venue - Cockermouth, 10.30am start)

Ten10 Finals (Penrith Gold, Workington, Workington Blue, Venue - Workington 9.30am start)