Westmorland Cricket League announces 2023 fixtures

Westmorland Cricket League has announced the fixtures for the upcoming 2023 season.

For divisions 1, 2 and 3, the fixtures get under way on April 15, whereas in division 4, teams won’t start playing until at least a couple of weeks later, with most opening games taking place on May 7.

Morecambe’s 2nd XI have moved to the top division of the Westmorland Cricket League. They replace Westgate who won the WCL’s top flight in 2022 and are now in the Moore & Smalley Palace Shield.

Appleby Eden 3, Burneside 3, Heysham 3 and Shireshead & Forton 4 are new to the Westmorland Cricket League, entering at Division 4.

Division 1 opening games (to be played on April 15):

Carnforth 2nds v Burneside

Heysham v Bare

Holme v Sedgwick

Kendal 2nds v Kirkby Lonsdale

Morecambe 2nds v Warton

Shireshead & Forton v Arnside

Division 2 opening games (to be played on April 15):

Coniston v Milnthorpe

Netherfield 3rds v Silverdale

Sedbergh School 2nds v Shireshead & Forton 2nds

Sedgwick 2nds v Cartmel

Westgate 2nds v Ambleside

Morecambe 3rds v Heysham 2nds

Division 3 opening games (to be played on April 15):

Arnside 2nds v Windermere

Bare 2nds v Ingleton

Bolton Le Sands v Leven Valley

Burneside 2nds v Galgate

Silverdale 2nds v Holme 2nds

Trimpell v Carnforth 2nds

Division 4 North opening games:

April 30: Coniston 2nds v Sedbergh School 3rds

May 7: Appleby Eden 3rds v Netherfield 4ths

May 7: Coniston 2nds v Ingleton 2nds

May 7: Kendal 3rds v Ulverston 3rds

May 14: Burneside 3rds v Ulverston 3rds

Division 4 South opening games:

April 30: Kirkby Lonsdale 2nds v Milnthorpe 2nds

May 7: Heysham 3rds v Westgate 3rds

May 7: Kirkby Lonsdale 2nds v Shireshead & Forton 3rds

May 7: Morecambe 4ths v Sedgwick 3rds

In the 2022 season, 999 people played competitive cricket in the Westmorland Cricket League. Every club is keen to welcome new players of all ages and abilities. The majority of clubs have started nets training now, so it’s the perfect time to get in touch with your local club if you want to get involved.

Several local clubs have All-Stars teams as an entry point for five to eight year olds and enter age group teams up to the age of 19. Some teams have also started up third teams that play on Sundays as a way of introducing younger players to senior cricket.

Many girls and women are getting more opportunities in cricket with a number of local sides starting up teams and this season, for the first time, there will be an eight-a-side women’s competition which will be played with a softball.

Clubs are also always looking for new volunteers to umpire, take score or help with the grounds.

The group stage draw for the Westmorland Cricket League inter-division cup competitions for divisions 1, 2 and 3 were made in late January. They are scheduled to begin in May and the fixtures were released this week, you can find more information here.

The draw for the division 4 cup competition, the Moon & Coxhill Trophy took place this week and fixtures for that tournament will be available to view on the Play Cricket website shortly.

For a more in-depth look at the Westmorland Cricket League fixtures, visit the league website.