LAKELAND rain robbed St Annes of victory against Kendal at Shap Road on Saturday (May 22).

Put in to bat, Adrian Darlington and Andrew Kellett gave St Annes a superb start with an opening partnership of 69 before the latter was caught by Kendal captain Richard Ellwood off Alan Dugdale for 24.

Darlington and St Annes professional Dave Callaghan added 20 for the second wicket before the latter was bowled by Nic Lewthwaite for eleven.

Darlington and Russ Bradley took the score on to 131 before Darlington was caught by Stuart Parkin off leg-spinner Richard Ellwood for 65.

His innings lasted 120 minutes and he hit 6 fours off 112 balls.

Three runs later Russ Bradley was bowled by Lewthwaite for 27.

Half the St Annes side were dismissed for 136 when Steven Twist was caught by Lewthwaite off Ellwood without opening is account.

Duncan Whalley and Adam Cotton added 13 runs for the sixth wicket before the former was caught by Ross Veenstra, the Kendal professional, off Ellwood for ten.

St Annes then collapsed and lost their last four wickets for only 13 runs as they finished on 162.

Kendal captain Richard Ellwood returned the superb analysis of 7 for 44 off 174 consecutive overs.

In reply, Kendal lost opener Steve Cooper for nought, trapped lbw by Dave Callaghan with only 4 runs on the board.

Alan Fawcett and Terry Hunte redressed the balance with a 46 runs partnership for the second wicket before the latter was caught by Joe Davies off Callaghan for 30.

In between the rain, Kendal lost seven wickets for 51 runs as Dave Callaghan was virtually unplayable.

The game added prematurely with Kendal on 101-9.

Rain stopped the home side's last man Stuart Parkin coming into bat.

Dave Callaghan bowled 23 consecutive overs and took 6 for 25, 13 of which were maidens.

The Spring Bank Holiday weekend sees two games within 48 hours.

On Saturday St Annes entertain lowly Leyland at Vernon Road and should win, while on Monday they travel to Preston and should complete another win, weather permitting.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.