Carnforth Cricket Club prepares for big cup final

Carnforth Cricket Club’s first team hope to win silverware this weekend in a huge game for the club.

They will take on Preston’s Vernon Carus at Leyland Cricket Club this Sunday (August 20) in the Moore & Smalley Palace Shield Meyler Cup.

Carnforth have been in the final of the competition once before in 2021, but unfortunately lost to Penrith on that day.

This year, the team beat Burneside, Croston, Westgate and Torrisholme’s first teams in the previous four stages of the competition to get to the final.

Vernon Carus are in the same league as Carnforth – the Palace Shield Premier Division.

The Preston side are in ninth, while Carnforth are second.

Carnforth captain Brad Hoyle, who has been at the club from junior level and captain for seven years, spoke to Beyond Radio to preview the big game.

“We’re positive going into the game,” said Brad, who plays as a fifth order batsman and a mid-wicket fielder.

“You could say we’re favourites looking at the league table, but Vernon Carus are a strong side, our league is very competitive and it’s a final as well, so anything could happen, but we feel good.

The rain has hindered preparations for the side, with them only playing three full games in the last five weeks, but Brad says the side are “hungry” for victory and “ready to go”.

They picked up a victory against rivals Torrisholme on Saturday (August 12), winning by eight wickets.

It has been a positive season for them, with the side adapting well to the Palace Shield Premier Division following promotion last season.

Euxton look strong favourites to win the league, they are currently 38 points better off than Carnforth, but there are still five games to go.

“Our league position is really good, we’re reaching the targets we set but we want to keep pushing and keep going," said Brad.

"The club is going in the right way, we’re growing and building.

“We said at the start of the season that if we could get a top four finish and do well in a cup competition then it’d be a good year, and we look on course to do that.”

The club will be well supported on Sunday, with two supporter coaches making their way to Leyland.

“We’ve got two 57-seater coaches coming to the game, which for a local cricket team is brilliant," said Brad.

"It gives the lads that bit extra to play for.

“We’ve done a lot on the social side recently with the clubhouse, so the fans are very important to us.”

Earlier in the season, the club raised funds for a new two bay net system, and work on that will commence next month.

“There’s a great feeling at the club currently, across all sections from the girls to the juniors, we’re in a very good place and that’s thanks to everybody at the club," said Brad.

Carnforth’s firsts versus Vernon Carus’ firsts in the Meyler Cup Final starts at 1.30pm on Sunday (August 20) at The Stanning Memorial Ground on Fox Lane, the home of Leyland Cricket Club (PR25 1HB).