Promotion battle in Palace Shield Cricket League set for final day

Two local cricket sides’ battle for second place in the Palace Shield Cricket League will come down to final day.

A very tight three way battle between the 1st XIs of Carnforth, Lancaster and Mawdesley Cricket Clubs for second place, with a potential promotion on offer, in the Moore & Smalley Palace Shield Premier Division will be decided this Saturday.

The second placed team will then have the same option as already crowned league champions Euxton to join the higher level Northern Premier Cricket League for the 2024 season.

This season’s top four positions in cricket’s Moore & Smalley Palace Shield Premier Division have been ever changing between the 1st XIs of Carnforth, Euxton, Lancaster and Mawdesley.

Euxton pulled away from the pack several weeks ago and, on Saturday August 26 after their away victory at Morecambe, the team were confirmed as league champions.

With one game remaining for all teams in the league, Carnforth and Mawdesley are in second and third places respectively, with both teams on 168 points but Carnforth have the superior net run rate.

Lancaster are fourth on 161 points.

Carnforth have already enjoyed success this season, winning the Palace Shield Meyler Cup in August after victory in the final over Vernon Carus.

Champions Euxton and the eventual second placed team will then have until Saturday September 30 to decide whether or not to take up the option of promotion to the Northern Premier Cricket League or remain in the Moore & Smalley Palace Shield Premier Division.

The Northern Premier Cricket League is considered the top senior cricket league across Central, North and West Lancashire and Central and South Cumbria with teams such as Penrith, Netherfield, Preston and Blackpool currently taking part.

Garstang also left the Palace Shield league after winning the Premier Division in 2017 and have prospered, playing in Northern Premier League and even winning the title in 2022.

At the bottom of the Moore & Smalley Palace Shield Premier Division, Morecambe’s 1st XI face the likelihood of relegation to Division 1A following their defeat to Penwortham at Woodhill Lane last Saturday.

The team sit rock bottom of the league table after a disappointing season.

Torrishome’s 1st XI, who currently sit third from bottom in 10th place with 125 points, are not safe either along with Vernon Carus in 9th (128 points) and Kirkham & Wesham in 11th (118 points).

Whomever out of those three teams finishes 11th could also face relegation to Division 1A.

Elsewhere in the many other Moore & Smalley Palace Shield divisions, Westgate’s 1st XI, who are about to wrap up their first ever season in the league, could finish as high as fourth in Division 1A which would be a great achievement in their first year playing at a higher level of cricket, following their promotion from the Westmorland Cricket League Division 1.

Lancaster’s 2nd XI could be promoted from Division 3 to Division 2 with a win in their last game away against Vernon Carus 3rd XI.

Torrisholme’s 2nd XI will finish second from bottom in Division 2 and will be relegated to Division 3 after a disappointing season.

Lancaster Cricket Club have one confirmed championship at senior level and that’s in the Moore & Smalley Palace Shield Sunday Division 2 West.

Their Sunday 1st XI have won the title and will be promoted to the Sunday Division 1 Division next season.

The remaining games for our local sides in the Palace Shield are as follows:

Moore & Smalley Palace Shield Competition Premier Division

Euxton 1st XI v Torrisholme 1st XI

Lancaster CC 1st XI v Thornton Cleveleys 1st XI

Penwortham 1st XI v Carnforth 1st XI

Preston 1st XI v Morecambe 1st XI

Moore & Smalley Palace Shield Competition Division 1A

Westgate 1st XI v Fulwood & Broughton 2nd XI

Moore & Smalley Palace Shield Competition Premier Division 2

Torrisholme 2nd XI v Charnock St James 1st XI

Moore & Smalley Palace Shield Competition Premier Division 3

Vernon Carus 3rd XI v Lancaster 2nd XI

All the games start at 1pm on Saturday September 16.