DALTON SIT AT TABLE SUMMIT

Dalton Cricket Club A hold an eight point advantage at the summit of Division One in the Kendal and District League, after a 9-1 demolition of Crook A made it five wins from as many games for the league leaders.
Crook started quite brightly in their match with Dalton, after John Howarth beat Paul Ackred 11-13, 7-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-5, having been two sets down. Dalton took command of the tie after this point as Keith Dymond and Andy Smith won all three matches, while Ackred recovered from his earlier setback to beat Mike Taylor and Phil Swift in three and four sets respectively. Smith and Ackred teamed up in the doubles to snatch glory in four sets and an overall 9-1 success for Dalton.
Defending champions Ibis lie eight points behind the league leaders after a crushing 10-0 victory against Dallam B. The Milnthorpe side were unfortunate not to get themselves on the score-sheet when Paul Gosling and Craig James narrowly lost out 11-8 and 11-6 respectively in tense fifth set battles against Peter Rushton. Ibis team mates Trevor Nicholson and Steve Dixon made light work of their games, helping the Kendal side to their fourth victory of the season.
Natland A are in fourth place and holding two games in hand over their rivals after defeating Dallam A 10-0. If Natland’s side consisting of Harry Carter, John Fearon and Roger Pimblett win their games in hand convincingly then they can take over top spot.
At the bottom of Division Two, Kirkby Stephen B and Dent occupy the relegation positions, with Natland D only nine points from danger. Dent have played five games and are still awaiting their first victory of the season after going down 8-2 against league leaders Crook B. Steve Hawley won two games for Dent, beating John Wood and Ed Lister, while Ben Smith was unlucky not to win a match, as he narrowly lost out to Lister 11-4 in the fifth set.
Kirkby Stephen B’s last outing was in October when they drew with Dent 5-5.
In Division Three, Burton E hold top spot after beating Natland F 26-9, maintaining their one hundred percent winning record, while second placed Grayrigg B remain in second position despite losing 18-17 to Kirkby Stephen C.