FARNWORTH Social Circle are the kings of veteran cricket in the North-west.

They secured that title by winning the Daniel Thwaites Veterans' Trophy for the second year in succession.

But they had to keep their nerve under pressure to beat Little Stoke 3-1 in a "bowl out" - cricket's equivalent of a football penalty shoot-out - after rain ruined the final at St Annes cricket club.

The competition for over-45 teams attracted clubs from Lancashire, Staffordshire, Yorkshire and Cumbria.