Fylde coast cricket review: Mixed fortunes as the 2026 season gets underway

Fleetwood won by five wickets at Whalley and TC by six at home to Settle on day one of the 2026 campaign last Saturday.

Whalley have switched to the NPCL from the North West League and soon discovered what they will be up against as they were removed for 83 with 3.4 overs remaining.

Only two home players reached double figures as Nathan Bend and Matthew Siddall, who is captaining the side while Declan Clerkin is injured, both took 3-13.

Fleetwood opener Jeremy Davies then hit four sixes in his 42, enabling them to reach 84-5 in 22.3 overs despite Joshua Dentith’s 3-22.

TC started at home and with the scalp of a division one club as Settle were restricted to 140-6, Sunny Singh with an unbeaten 56.

Rain saw the hosts’ target reduced to 104, which they reached in 21.5 overs for the loss of four wickets.

New Zealander Josh Borrell paved the way with 43 from 38 balls at the top of the order.

New captain Josh Sackfield wrapped the victory up with an unbeaten 31 from 24 despite Angus Ogden dismissing the top three.

There were, however, defeats for the Fylde coast’s other NPCL clubs in cup action.

Blackpool lost by 32 runs against Leyland at Stanley Park, where the visitors batted first and reached 167-9 in their 40 overs.

Jacob Wright (29) top-scored as Jamie Thomson took 4-40 for Blackpool, who were set a revised target of 156 from 35 overs.

They were all out for 123 in 28.1, Matt Taaffe hitting 33 before he was the last man out in falling to Liam Hurt (3-25).

St Annes were beaten by three wickets at Longridge, where they batted first and compiled 153-8.

Evan Dobson made 35 and Rory Urquhart 30 as St Annes recovered from 71-6, Tom Howarth with 3-19.

Longridge reached their target with five balls left, posting 154-7 after a third-wicket stand of 66 between Alex Mason (42) and Louie Trayers (33).

Lytham’s NPCL debut brought a nine-wicket loss to Kendal, last year’s division one champions.

Asked to bat first by their visitors, Lytham fell from 57-3 to 102 all out.

Stewart Davison (19) top-scored for Lytham as Freddie Fallows took 3-17 and Louis Backhouse 3-24.

Although Darren Nightingale (0) fell early in reply, Kendal reached 106-1 inside 18 overs.

James Bowman (54 not out) and Finlay Richardson (40 not out) put on an unbroken 102.

Great Eccleston lost by 104 runs at Netherfield, dismissed for 74 chasing the hosts’ 178-6.

Netherfield’s Jafer Chohan made 65 and took 3-24, while Oli Wileman claimed 3-0 as Great Ecc lost their last seven wickets for 14 runs.

Day one of the Palace Shield saw a stunning start to Fylde’s Championship campaign.

Darcy Whitten took 4-0 as Fylde bowled out Garstang’s seconds for 24 before they replied with 25-3.

Kirkham and Wesham lost by 58 runs in their division one match at Leyland 2, who batted first and compiled 152-7.

Antony Wilson took 4-37 for K&W, whose reply saw them collapse from 47-2 to 94 all out.

Samuel Oldfield (30) and Cooper McLean (13) were the only batters in double figures as Ben Weaver claimed 5-37.