Last updated 19:51, Thursday, 04 September 2008

ANOTHER weekend of poor weather meant only one of the planned Cumbria Junior Cricket League finals was played and it saw Penrith Gold clinch the overall U15 title for the second succesive year.

RUNNERS-UP: Workington U15 team

On the Saturday, Penrith and Workington senior teams had played out a thrilling game that ultimately saw Workington win by just one wicket to retain the North Lancashire & Cumbria title.

Twenty-four hours later it was the turn of the clubs’ U15 teams to display the wealth of junior talent that exists, not only within both clubs but within the league as a whole.

Penrith and Workington U15s 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 1-12 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 to 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 105-7 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 Workington’s opening bats Jake Daniel and Liam Ryan.

Dulson’s spell of four overs conceded just seven runs.

First change bowlers Nicky Birtle and Jack Winter carried on the good work with Winter taking the wickets of both openers – Ryan caught behind and Daniel trapped lbw.

Birtle claimed the vital wicket of Workington’s hard hitting Jonny Irving – caught and bowled.

By the 14th over the run rate had risen to 10 an over and while 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 76-6.

Sunday, hopefully, will see all the remaining finals played although the forecast is again not looking that promising.

U11 League Cup final, Threlkeld (10.30am): Carlisle Green v Whitehaven Blue.

U13 League Cup final, Threlkeld, (1.30pm): Cockermouth Gold v Carlisle Green.

U15 division one play-off final, Cockermouth (10.30am): Cockermouth Green v Penrith Green.

Ten10 finals, Workington (9.30am): Penrith Gold, Workington, Workington Blue.