Whitehaven lost their crucial battle at Dalton last week at the bottom of the Cumbria League’s Premier Division.
The Playground team, who just staved off relegation last season, are looking as though they are going to be involved in another late season battle to stay in the top flight.
But although it might be doom and gloom with the first team, there are plenty of positives at the club who have a thriving junior section.
On Saturday, while the firsts were losing at Dalton, the second team recorded a big win at home to Lindal Moor 2nds – courtesy of two centurions.
Jason Spires – the former Aspatria scrum-half – hit an unbeaten 117 while Adam McGarry hit 113no.
They came together when both openers had gone for 11 and they featured in an unbroken third wicket stand of 259 and the team went on to win by 147 runs.
The seconds are six points behind Division Two leaders Vickerstown who have won all six games to date.
Jason’s son Tom plays for the club’s Under-15s and recently took eight wickets against Egremont, and is just one of a number of promising young cricketers at Whitehaven.
So although there is concern for the current first team there are high hopes for the younger players coming through.
Whitehaven have a tough Premier Division game in prospect tomorrow when they host Keswick, who have just fought their way back into a top four slot.
Carlisle face an important week-end as they put their unbeaten record on the line in League and Cup.
With a 100 per cent record in the Cumbria League’s Premier Division they travel south to take on a Millom side who have been gradually improving since their return to the top flight.
They currently lie fourth in the table, winning six of their eight games so far, including a five-wicket derby win last week at home to Haverigg.
Carlisle, though, a young, motivated side have won all eight of their League games so far and are clearly the team to beat.
They follow up the Millom trip with a testing Higson Cup quarter final at Cockermouth on Sunday. The Sandair side are their nearest challengers in the League – eight points behind.
They have to make changes on both days. Henry Walker is unavailable from the win over Workington last Saturday so Jonathan Musgrave comes into the side.
Former skipper Marc Brown and Alex Raybould are also missing on Sunday so Walker returns along with Jordan Oultram from the 2nds.
But if it’s a big weekend for Carlisle, it could be a season-defining weekend for Cockermouth with two massive games to look forward to.
On Saturday, they host champions Furness in the League and then will be bidding for a semi-final place in the Higson Cup against Carlisle.
The Sandair side will be encouraged by new overseas amateur Mikyle Louis who scored his maiden half century for the club in the win at Cleator last week (60no) after top-scoring the night before in a last-wicket T20 defeat to Wigton.
Egremont are looking over their shoulders at Dalton and Whitehaven below them and have a home fixture against Workington who battled well in defeat at Carlisle.
Completing the fixtures are: Haverigg v Dalton and Cleator v Wigton.
