It’s been a great weekend for the Whitehaven club as their seconds and thirds completed League and Cup doubles.
The Seconds wrapped-up their double with a League win at local rivals Cleator with a lead of over 40 points at the top, and the Vigodny Cup already in the club’s trophy cabinet.
Batting first against Cleator Haven scored 214-4 with 15-year-old Kian Larmour just missing out on a centurt as he reached 93. Andrew Cameron supported well with 54 while Sachin George was 33 not out.
In reply the home side’s innings ended on 165-3 with Steve Wishart top-scoring on 54 and receiving decent support from Thomas Whitfield-Bott (34) and Connor Hodgson (33no).
Despite not looking like challenging Whitehaven’s total it was an encouraging batting performance by the Villagers and they will be more optimistic for next season.
Whitehaven have lost only one Division Two game over the last two seasons, but were cruelly robbed of the title in 2022 due to having a lot more games rained off than did rivals Vickerstown.
With such a big lead (currently 47 points) Dominic Chambers’ side thoroughly deserve the title and it was also a bonus to have clinched the Vigodny Cup alongside the Championship silverware.
There was more silverware collected by the Whitehaven thirds when they added the Burton Cup to the West Cumbria League which they had already won – finishing just ahead of the club’s fourths.
In the first semi-final of the Cup competition Workington scored 98 from their allotted 20 overs led by Kieran Johnson (31no) and Jack Schers (24).
Haven reached their target as in form Kian Larmour hit 51 not out and Jordan Hill chipped in with 23.
In the other semi-final Whitehaven fourths lost to Cockermouth thirds after the Playgrounders had opened with 106. Will Allan hit a typical quick-fire 30 and Tom Green made 24.
Ethan Hardie-Knight claimed 3-13 for Cockermouth who replied with a well-paced winning innings led by Hardie-Knight (42no) and Brian King (25).
In the final Larmout was again to the fore with another 50 along with Hill who scored 29 before retiring. Jack Bloomer took three wickets for Cockermouth.
Cockermouth’s reply got off to a bad start as Hill claimed two wickets and then Cody Meagan took 4-11 as wickets continued to tumble.
Meagan was ably assisted by some fine fielding from Harley Bowness and James Connery who each took three excellent catches.
Cockermouth were never really up with the run rate and only Alan Scales with 20 made any headway as they were all out for 91.
It completed another great season for Whitehaven Third as they emu;lated their Second team counterparts with a League and Cup double.
On the bigger picture the final showed that Whitehaven and Cockermouth have some very promising young cricketers with Hardie-Knight, Larmour and Meagan really catching the eye. The future of both clubs looks in very good hands.
