WORKINGTON have retained the North Lancashire League’s Premier Division title – the first team to do so since it was formed in 2000.

Also, by a remarkable coincidence, Workington won back-to-back North Lancashire League titles 50 years ago – in 1957 and 1958.

But the Valentine Ground side almost slipped-up in their final home game and could easily have been going to Keswick this week-end still looking for the win to guarantee them the title.

Penrith took them all the way on Saturday before the west Cumbrians squeezed through to victory by the narrowest of margins – one wicket.

It was a fluctuating contest, a gripping affair, as fortunes ebbed and flowed throughout.

Captain Stephen Benson said: “It was really good to retain the title. I took over from Kristian Moffat who was captain last year and basically we’ve done it with the same side.

“I think we’re a good all-round side with no real stars. Nobody got more than 600 runs yet everybody chipped in at some point when it mattered.

“There’s a good team spirit as you would expect and we have a great professional. Simon Beare missed the first five matches of the season but has contributed a lot since. He’s one of the boys and happily we are pleased to say that he’s coming back for a fifth season next year.”

Workington inserted their visitors and had an instant pay-back when the dangerous Andy Hall was caught at slip by home professional Simon Beare off Adam Walker.

The Penrith innings was really given substance by professional Upul Fernando who went on to make 60 after he was dropped on nine.

When he was fourth out in the 36th over Penrith had reached 111 but a late flourish from Tony Threlkeld (27no) saw them to 159-9 in their 50 overs. Opener Mick Burns had earlier made 25.

Simon James, the man who had dropped Fernando, more than compensated by taking 5-33 from his maximum 15 overs.

Workington’s reply started as badly as Penrith’s with Andrew Reed brilliantly run out off the second ball without scoring. Ben Littleton hit the stumps at the bowler’s end from cover to send Reed back to the pavilion.

But Calum Moffat and Beare did a solid job in putting the innings on an even keel and they took the score to 73 in the 15th over.

Then the introduction of Fernando into the attack started posing problems and he dismissed Moffat for 29 before embarrassing Workington’s middle order.

When Beare went for 69 Workington had reached 128-6 and there was still work to do – although plenty of overs in which to do it.

County bowler Matthew Gorley, playing only as a batsman because of a shoulder problem, made a good 17 but when he was out Workington were still short on 155-9.

It was left to Kyle Gale and Walker to see Workington home.

Galea took a four off John Iniff to put the west Cumbrians level, and really that was good enough to retain the title. But three overs later Walker scored the single which ensured victory and also a better way to celebrate the triumph.

Fernando was the most successful Penrith bowler, finishing with 5-31.

Cleator did what they had to do, winning at Cockermouth and hope for a Workington slip-up.

County bowler Dave Rooney took 3-31 when the home side were bowled-out for 127 with the innings built around an eighth wicket stand between professional Chamila Gamage (42) and Nick Mandale (35).

But 127 was unlikely to pose many problems for Cleator and so it proved as Paul Duffett (83no) and Graham Clark (43) virtually did it between them to give Cleator the full 18 points.

Duddon SC and Carlisle, the two relegated clubs met in the south of the county and a low-scoring game went the way of the hosts.

Duddon reached 129-9 with Chris Foxcroft (3-8) and Steve Johnson (3-29) doing well with the ball for Carlisle.

But Carlisle fared badly despite 40 from opener Glenn Clark and were eventually rolled-over for 101 with Gary Stevenson (4-8) and Joe Alexander (3-25) doing most of the damage.

Top scorers in the Premier Division were Dalton who hit 226-8 against Millom and went on to win by 101 runs. Justin Quint was to the fore, scoring 116 and then taking 2-9 as professional Wiaan Van Zyl took 4-56 in the Millom collapse to 125 all out.

Keswick also topped 200 in their game against Furness but the home side held on at the finish for a draw and ten points.

The Keswick score of 206-8 owed much to the start given by openers Darren Collin (50) and Glen Weightman (51) while John Mason chipped-in with 43.

Former Keswick professional Majid Jahangir top-scored with 67 in the Furness reply of 179-9. Current pro Dinuk Hettiarachchi took 3-39 and Simon Dawson had 3-22.

The other game between Whitehaven and Haverigg had to be called-off because of the state of the Playground pitch following heavy rain.

In Division One Wigton have gone from top to third and could miss out on promotion.

At rivals Lindal Moor they were skittled for 54 as Colin Knight (3-11), substitute professional Jay Zia (3-13) and Andrew Parkinson (3-15) got among them. Then Parkinson (30no) steered Lindal to victory on 55-2.

Kirkby also went above Wigton when they beat Vickerstown by nine runs in a hard-fought south Cumbrian contest.

Paul Tyson top-scored for Kirkby with 62 in a total of 126 while Gary Benson took 6-44 for Vickerstown.

It was touch and go for a long time before Vickerstown were bowled-out for 117 with Rob Tyson taking 5-15.

Lindal are top with 287 points but finish-off with a tough looking trip to Appleby Eden while Kirkby, who travel to Ulverston have 283.

Wigton finish with a home game against Cleator seconds and have 276 points.

In a low-scoring game at Egremont the home side lost to Ulverston by 40 runs.

Richard Booth took 5-18 to help bowl out the visitors for 104 but then David Yates took 7-32 to dismiss Egremont for just 60.

In a worse state, and bowled-out cheaply for the second week in a row, were Keswick seconds.

This time they were shot out for 39 by Appleby Eden whose professional Tillakaratne Sampath took 7-13, his best bowling return of the summer – and he’s a wicket-keeper back home in Sri Lanka!

Earlier Appleby Eden had made 137 led by Mark Ousby (39n0) with Andrew Appleby taking 5-32 for Keswick.

In the other First Division game Workington seconds won by four wickets at Lanercost.

Mark Brown made 76 in a Lanercost total of 142 with Jordan Whinn taking 4-43 for Workington. The west Cumbrians responded with 145-6led by Stephen Miller (65no) and Paul McKeown (34).

In Division Two champions Seascale had another easy win away at Dalton Reserves after the home team chose to bat first on a very damp wicket.

They were bowled out for just 76 before Seascale's openers Robin Sparshott (34no) and Mark Farries (34no) then knocked off the runs without loss to record a ten wicket win on 77-0.

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