Longridge are Palace Shield champions at last

Longridge celebrate their Moore and Smalley Palace Shield Premier Division title success

The men from Chipping Road sealed the Premier Division title with one game to spare thanks to a comprehensive victory over New Longton at Chapel Lane.

With rain forecast for much of the day on Saturday, the match did not get under way until 3.30pm.

And Longridge were certainly in a hurry to wrap up victory as they routed the hosts for just 76 off 24 overs.

The visitors had one or two problems in reply, losing six wickets, but they reached their victory target off 15 overs.

The club will now decide whether to take up the option of promotion to the Northern League Division One.

Lancaster’s hopes of promotion suffered a huge blow on Saturday when they were beaten by South Shore at Mad Nook.

They have now slipped to third in the table, overtaken by Kendal, who got the better of Thornton Cleveleys.

A poor batting display was Lancaster’s downfall as they were all out for just 68 off 22.3 overs. Only Charlie Swarbrick (31) and Liam Moffat (14) reached double figures. Michael Hall was the pick of the bowlers, taking 6-22.

In reply, the home side lost five wickets on their way to victory, but Nathan Bolus remained unbeaten on 29.

Kendal now know they need four points from their final game of the season at Great Eccleston to be certain of an immediate return to the Northern League.

Chris Miller’s men, who were relegated last season, enjoyed a five-wicket win at Illawala. Daniel Howard scored 46 off 44 balls as the hosts posted 119 all out from 22 overs. Miller returned figures of 6-30.

In reply, Ben Phillips struck an unbeaten half-century as Kendal reached their victory target off 20.4 overs.

Eccleston were eight-wicket winners over Torrisholme at Boundary Meadow. An unbeaten 34 from Joel Stewart and 25 from James Cookson enabled Torrisholme to post 105-7 off 27 overs in a rain- affected match. Michael Robert Atkinson, Stewart White and Peter Cummings all took two wickets apiece.

In reply, Atkinson (48) and Adam Norris (42) were in fine form as the visitors cruised to victory.

The matches involving Croston and Penwortham and Great Eccleston versus Vernon Carus all fell foul of the weather.