Palace Shield and Northern League round-ups

Last season both teams were rivals for the title and ended on the same number of points, with Garstang second to eventual champions Great Eccleston, while Freckleton were third.

The signs are there that they will be battling it out again at the top of the table after they began the new season with two wins from their opening couple of games.

However, it was the hosts who saw their 100 per cent record ruined at the weekend as Garstang enjoyed a comprehensive 78-run win.

Having been asked to bat first, it looked like it was going to be a difficult day for them as they were reduced to 48-5.

Dave Whalley led a recovery as he dug in for a battling 34 and was handed some decent late order support.

Jamie Hogarth and Joshua Holden each took three wickets as the visitors were dismissed for 150 inside the final over.

In reply, Freckleton were in all kinds of trouble from the beginning as Ian Walling ripped through their card.

He took 8-23 as the home side were reduced to 36-9. Incredibly Danny Gilbert (22 not out) and Jacob Holland (4 not out) batted 176 balls between them for the final wicket as they closed on 72-9.

Fulwood and Broughton enjoyed a terrific eight-victory over Vernon Carus at Highfield.

Vernons elected to bat first and scored 150 all out in 38 overs. James McDonagh top-scored with 43, whilc Richard Turner took 4-28.

In reply, Amin Patel hit a fine half-centruy and Ben Parkinson was unbeaten on 46 as F&B raced to their victory target off 28 overs.

Penwortham are the team at the top of the table after registering their third successive win by comprehensively outplaying Fylde.

Half-centuries came from Martin Hewitt and Andrew Tobutt, along with good knocks from Jack Aspden (33), Tom Nowlan (35) and Jack Armer (34).

In reply, Thomas Wilson returned figures of 6-42 as the visitors were dismissed for 91.

Longridge bounced back from last week’s defeat with a comfortable five-wicket away win over Croston.

Rory McDowall took 4-64 and Alex Mason 5-30 as Croston were dismissed for 142. Luke Platt (48) guided the visitors to victory with 10 overs to spare.

Reigning champions Great Eccleston were comfortable winners over Whittingham and Goosnargh at Hall Lane.

No visiting batsman was able to score above 20 as they folded to 120 all out after 30 overs. Phil Booth took 7-55.

A watchful unbeaten 46 from James Thistlethwaite ensured Great Ecc cruised to victory for the loss of three wickets.

In the final match of the season, Thornton Cleveleys enjoyed a close 21-run win over Torrisholme at Boundary Meadow.

A terrific knock of 75 from Daniel Howard helped Cleveleys post 197-8. He was given excellent support from Joe Bell (44) and Jordan Beech (38). The home side made a valiant effort in reply, but fell just short despite Chris Parry’s half-century.

Preston won their first Northern Premier League game since 2014, beating Morecambe by 13 runs.

The West Cliff outfit went all of last season without a win but broke their duck just four games into this campaign.

During the winter, great strides were taken by the club in order to be better on the pitch this summer.

And the green shoots of recovery started to show with this maximum points victory over the reigning champions.

Electing to bat first after winning the toss, Preston put 217-8 on the board.

Lukman Vahaluwala hit 79, with Irshad Desai scoring 55. In reply, Morecambe were bowled out for 204, taking the game to the last over.

It was strong scoring lower down the order which pushed them close to their target.

Viraj Bhati hit 39, Edward Read 36, Gert Maartens 25 and Tommy Clough 23.

Andrew Starkie starred with the ball for Preston, returning 6-43 from 16.2 overs.

Leyland sit at the top of the table after an 86-run victory against Lancaster at Lune Road.

Invited to bat first, Leyland were 184 all out, Henry Thompson their top scorer with a knock of 54.

Ross Bretherton scored 38 and pro Richardt Frenz 25.

Callum East was the pick of the Lancaster bowling attack, taking 6-60 in 12.3 overs.

The hosts were dismissed for 98 in reply, Leyland cleaning up inside 36 overs.

Karl Cross took 5-43 and Thompson added to his half-century by taking 3-7.

Opener Alex Metcalfe was Lancaster’s top scorer with 21, Jamie Heywood adding 18.

Fleetwood beat Chorley by 53 runs at Broadwater.

Travis Dean’s 64 at the top of the order gave Fleetwood a strong platform to build on, with Dean Bell hitting 49 as the hosts were 175-7.

Chorley pro Wihan Lubbe took 3-65, while there were two wickets for James Lee.

Lubbe top-scored with 36 in the visitors’ reply, one which fell well short.

They were 122 all out in the 37th over, Patrick Ashton taking 4-49 for Fleetwood.

Blackpool and Kendal had a drawn game at Stanley Park, with the visitors having much the better of it.

Asked to bat first, Kendal were 219-7, helped by Syed Ali’s 76 and a knock of 66 from Lesiba Chris Ngoepe.

Blackpool were 129-5 in reply, Richard Gleeson scoring 40 and Daryl Mitchell 39.

There were plenty of runs scored in St Annes’ visit to Barrow, a game which ended in a draw.

Barrow were 272-7 in the first innings, Kaustubh Pawar hitting a superb unbeaten 124.

In reply, St Annes were 207-8, Richard Staines scoring 73 and Nathan Armstrong 48.

Netherfield beat Darwen by seven wickets.

They bowled their visitors out for 144, replying with 148-3 to clinch victory.