The 2012 season started with a determination to improve on the 2011 campaign and so it was proved as Westgate took trophy after trophy. In the League the 1st XI got off to a flying start, with 5 maximum point wins only disturbed by a rain draw and a healthy 22 point lead over the rest of their contenders in a keenly contested championship.

One of these victories was against defending Champions Warton. Batting first Warton found themselves in deep trouble at 36 for 6, Danny Wilkinson claiming 4 wickets in a hostile opening spell ably supported by under 16 star Craig Buchanan (2 for 16). The Warton lower order dug in and started to recover the situation, Danny Dixon (31) and Graeme Crowther (15) made the score respectable but it was the tailenders, Jack Brown (45n.o.) and Marcus Nicholson (8), who did the damage by putting on 59 for the last wicket, taking the score to 143 a.o. Westgate lost both openers cheaply as Andrew Ideson (5 for 35) caused havoc with the top order. At 76 for 6 Warton were well on top but Danny Wilkinson, Khan Puffett and Darren McDermott through some hard hitting and sensible running took the score to 117 for 8 after 42 overs. Wilkinson then hit 6,1,4,4 to bring up his 50 off 57 balls and take the game into the last over with Warton seemingly forgetting that Westgate could crucially claim the extra over forfeited by them in being dismissed after 44 of their allotted 45 overs. Four runs were needed – dot, dot, 2 then a towering 6 from Wilkinson completed the job with Danny claiming it was ‘never in doubt’ as he completed a magnificent all-round display, finishing with 64 not out in a 9th wicket partnership with James Davies, with all of these runs coming off his own bat as Westgate earned a thrilling victory.

The weather combined with 4 defeats saw Westgate slip to second in the League, 3 points behind Warton with Burneside and Shireshead in close attendance. There were three games remaining and Warton claimed 37 out of their 45 available points meaning Westgate needed to do something special. The first of these games was against Silverdale. Led by David Lord (64) and Danny Wilkinson (35) Westgate declared on 173 for 7. With 49 overs to bat Silverdale were determined to hang on for the draw but Steve Creed (2 for 2) and young Dylan Conroy (2 for 3) backed up by some superb fielding saw Westgate to victory. The next match was against Ambleside and saw Westgate declare their innings for the 6th time in the season, this time after 36 overs with the score on 168 for 5 with Craig Atkinson (71n.o.) and Danny Wilkinson (47) doing the damage. Another 15 point victory was then taken as Ambleside collapsed to 51a.o., having no answer to the bowling of the two Andys….Nisbet (4 for 21) and Hill (2 for 6). Warton had dropped points meaning that Westgate had a five point cushion with one game remaining. The final game was away against neighbours Bare and on a sticky wicket Westgate struggled to 109 a.o. in 38 overs with only Peter Wilson (38) showing any form. In reply Bare were reduced to 27 for 7 after 20 overs and Westgate were in control. However Bare had other ideas and their eighth wicket partnership started to chip away at the Westgate score. At 84 for 7 in the 50th over as another game went into ‘extra’ overs, Bare were in sight of what would have been an incredible victory and would have left Westgate as runners-up as news came through that Warton had claimed maximum points in their game. Bare had 53 overs to bat, 3 overs remained and for Westgate 3 wickets needed to be taken. A win seemed unlikely but panic seemed to set into the minds of the batsman, two wickets in three balls, the second a senseless run out gave Westgate hope. With 9 balls left Westgate took the last wicket (Peter Wilson 4 for 25 and Danny Wilkinson 4 for 24) and with this victory the Championship was won by 5 points.

Between the first and last league games, the first XI entered three cup competitions, and unbelievably reached all three finals. For the third year running they contested the Tower Shield Final, but lost by 24 runs to Heysham in an eagerly contested encounter. There only consolation that day was the MOM award given to Danny Wilkinson for his bowling analysis of 3 for 24 and scoring 37 in a losing cause. The Westmorland League Cup competitions went more smoothly!

The Laurelle Trophy (Division 1) Knock-out competition began with a tie against Bolton-Le-Sands. Batting first the Westgate openers, Peter Wilson (106) and Danny Wilkinson (103n.o.) totally destroyed the Sands bowlers scoring 200 (a Club record opening partnership) in 18.4 overs. Wilson recorded his 19th century, taking 50 balls to reach his century, the second 50 coming in 19 balls. Wilkinson took 57 balls to reach his century, the second 50 coming in 24 balls. The result was a formality and Westgate marched on to meet Milnthorpe in the semi-final. Milnthorpe were kept to 88 for 8 in their 20 overs with Wilkinson (3 for 6) and Hill (3 for 23) the main wicket takers. In reply Westgate lost an early wicket but Wilson (54n.o.) saw the side to victory in the 13th over. The final was held at Silverdale in early August, the opposition were Shireshead. Batting first Shireshead scored 114 for 9 in their allotted overs. Dylan Conroy (3 for 14) and Peter Wilson (2 for 14) being the pick of the Westgate bowlers. In reply David Lord (25) and Peter Wilson (57n.o.) saw Westgate to victory with 5 wickets and 7 balls to spare. Peter Wilson being adjudged the Man of the Match. Peter ended with a batting average of 217 in this competition.

The Hackney and Leigh Trophy (All Divisions) Knock-out competition began with a home tie against local rivals Trimpell. Batting first Westgate scored 197 for 7 with Craig Atkinson (63), Dave Hannigan (44), Andrew Hill (29) and David Lord (25) being the run makers. In reply Trimpell were comfortably placed at 104 for 1 but the spell of the season from Hill who finished with figures of 3 overs, no maidens, 11 runs, 6 wickets which included his first ever hat-trick for the club. Garry Tattersall (3 for 12) played a supporting role as Westgate emerged as winners by 52 runs. In the next round Westgate had a difficult tie against Shireshead away. Batting first in bowler friendly conditions Westgate found themselves in trouble at 58 for 6 but a gritty rearguard action by Khan Puffett, David Lord and Darren McDermott saw Westgate reach 122 in their allotted overs. In reply after 14 overs Shireshead had reached 70 for 3 and the Westgate total was looking vulnerable but with 2 wickets each from Steve Creed, Andy Nisbet and Andy Hill the game was evenly balanced. Shirehead edged closer to their target until Garry Tattersall took three wickets in one over to leave Westgate as winners by 9 runs. The semi-final against Heysham proved to be a one-sided affair, Westgate emerging as easy winners with Andy Hill (40 and 2 for 12) and Garry Tattersall (3 for 14). The final at Sedgwick was against Windermere, this was the week after the Laurelle Trophy win and their fifth game in an eight day period. Batting first Windermere set a target of 124 for victory, Danny Wilkinson (2 for 6) and Andy Hill (4 for 41) being the best of the Westgate bowlers. In reply Westgate reached 102 for 6 after 21 overs but with top scorer and MOM Craig Atkinson dismissed for 31 the game was evenly balanced, 4 overs left 22 runs required. Within 2 overs the game was finished with Aaron Pearce hitting 22n.o. to see his side home. It is of note that this final was umpired by ex-Test Match umpire John Holder.

Just under five weeks later the team travelled to Bare and completed the WCL ‘Treble’. This momentous landmark has only been achieved once before in the long history of the league – by Westgate themselves in 2000 under the captaincy of Nigel Parkinson.

The Treble winning side of 2012 had a nucleus of 14 players and it is a testament to the Westgate Club that all 14 came through the thriving junior section of the Club. Skipper Andy Hill scored over 400 runs and was top wicket taker with 53 wickets, vice-skipper David Lord scored 450 runs, a half-fit Peter Wilson was top run scorer with 690 runs and for the fourth successive year topped the League bowling averages while Danny Wilkinson scored 537 runs and took 49 wickets. Craig Atkinson, Steve Creed, Dave Hannigan and wicket keeper Aaron Pearce all scored over 200 runs while Garry Tattersall and a rejuvenated Andy Nisbet took wickets at vital times. Khan Puffett, Dylan Conroy, Craig Buchanan and Darren McDermott made significant contributions throughout the season. Skipper Andy Hill made comment at the presentation evening that although losing some games and being outplayed at times, the team had never lost spirit and had never been ‘out-fielded’, and these were the biggest factors to their successes, with McDermott picking up the Fielding Prize to go with the Captain’s Award presented during the evening.

The glorious 2000’s of unparalleled achievements for the club has seen the first XI dominate the WCL. They have 5 Championships, 5 Runners-up, 5 Hackney and Leigh (All Divisions) Trophy wins, and 6 Division1 Knock-out Cup wins in this era. Several members have been part of more than one successful Championship side: 5 Championships: Steve Creed, Danny Wilkinson and Peter Wilson; 4 Championships: David Lord, Andy Nisbet and Nigel Parkinson; 3 Championships: Dave Hannigan, Andy Hill, Rodger Hill, Dave Murphy and Andrew Wilson; 2 Championships: Paul Griffiths, Alan Horne, Ian Higson and Garry Tattersall.

Another multiple title winner is Dave Hughes, he dropped down from the first XI to captain the seconds and missed out on a chance of topping the list, he already had 5 championship wins (1991 with Bare, 2000,02,04,08 with Westgate). His team performed with credit throughout the season and again finished highest of all WCL second teams by finishing third in Division 2 and completed a fine season by winning the ‘Fair Play Award’.

In the league they were always playing ‘catch-up’ to the two strong first elevens of Trimpell and Windermere. In late June title winning aspirations were high after the game against Windermere. Batting first in this match they reached 165 with Nigel Parkinson (56), Dave Hannigan (37), Dylan Conroy (22), Sid Gani (22) and Phil Webster (18) all contributing to the score. In reply Windermere struggled against the bowling of Zak Buchanan and Dylan Conroy, both taking two wickets apiece. It was a junior, Ryan McMenamin, who ripped through the Windermere batting returning an analysis of 6 overs 3 maidens 5 runs 4 wickets as Windermere were 89a.o. Windermere eventually finished champions. There were two maiden centuries scored by players in the 2nd XI, the first, against Galgate, by the returning Craig Atkinson (107) taking 50 balls to reach his century the second 50 coming in 22 balls. The second came against Kirkby Lonsdale, scored by Phil Webster (100n.o.) taking 73 balls to reach his century, the second 50 coming in 35 balls. While Phil was at the crease 139 runs were scored by the team! Dylan Conroy, 17 years old, scored his maiden 50 for the Club and quickly followed it by a second two weeks later, in total he scored 198 runs at an average of 33. Nigel Parkinson was the leading run scorer with 455 runs (3 x 50s) while Phil Webster scored 320 runs and, the ever youthful, Sid Gani scored 278 runs. Zak Buchanan was the leading wicket taker with 38 wickets (best return of 6 for 15) closely followed by Rob Shillitoe with 37 wickets (best return of 6 for 17) and mention should go to young Ryan McMenamin with 15 wickets. Andy Nisbet took 18 wickets at an average of just under 10, before claiming a first team spot. This season several other junior players have shown the ability to play at senior level, these include Matt Hannigan and from the under 16 side Alex Briggs, Chris Cape and Elliott Chapman and from the under 14 side Sam Frith, Kyle Gill and Jack Huntington. All players to watch out for in the future.

The Youth Mid-Week XI won the Premier League Championship for the third successive year, won the K.O. Cup for the fourth successive year and completed their “Treble” for the second year running by retaining the Premier Division Cup. In the K.O. Cup final 14 year old Jack Huntington was adjudged the Man of the Match.

In 2012 the Club entered an Under 21 side into the newly formed WCL Development Competition. Captained by James Davies they eased into the final beating all opposition easily, Alex Briggs (batting average 70.5), Matt Hannigan and Dylan Conroy all scored half centuries with Elliot Chapman, Craig Buchanan, Nathan Watts and James Davies also contributing with the bat. Notable performances with the ball came from Craig Buchanan, Zac Buchanan, Elliot Chapman and Ryan McMenamin. The side faced an experienced Arnside team in the final. Batting first Arnside, on a wet wicket at Warton, struggled against the bowling of Zac Buchanan, Dylan Conroy, Elliot Chapman and Ryan McMenamin. In reply Westgate slowly but surely edged their way to victory with skipper Davies hitting the winning run. 15 year old Elliot Chapman was adjudged Man of the Match for his bowling performance. This was a very young side consisting of two over age players with one under 19, two under 17, three under 16, two under 15 and two under 14. A tremendous achievement from the Club’s younger players.

In 2012 Westgate ran 4 junior teams with the introduction of an Under 10 side. This meant a huge commitment by the Club at junior level, once again showing that Westgate realises the importance of the junior section to the Club. The newly formed under 10’s performed well but more importantly enjoyed both their practices and their games, they finished in the bottom half of the table but that was only to be expected with such a young inexperienced team. The under 12’s played well throughout the season and finished 5th in their League. The under 14’s finished fourth in their League with Sam Frith, Kyle Gill, Jack Huntington and Denver Lalonde all experiencing senior cricket. There was success for the under 14’s in their Cup competition where they reached the final but were unfortunate to lose by 5 runs in a close encounter with Sam Frith being adjudged Man of the Match for Westgate. The under 16 side were the most successful junior side finishing as runners-up in the League and reaching their Cup final where they were unfortunately beaten, Sam Kirby being adjudged Man of the Match for Westgate. The junior section continues to thrive and is where there a great deal of potential lies for future Westgate Cricket Club success.

There is no doubt that 2012 has been an amazingly successful year for the Club but 2013 will provide more challenges on the field but there is no doubt that the Club is well placed to meet and beat those challenges.