Having reached the top of the Cumbria League’s Premier Division after five games, champions Carlisle will be in no mood to let their lead slip.
A five-wicket win at Millom took them to the summit as Workington’s run of four straight wins ended at Furness.
But Carlisle had a sharp reminder on Sunday that there are weaknesses as a changed line-up was well beaten at home by Cockermouth in the quarter final of the Higson Cup.
On Saturday they will be looking to atone for that cup setback by picking up maximum League points against a Wigton side, currently bottom of the table and one of only two sides still to pick-up a win.
For previous leaders Workington it’s a question of atoning for their heavy defeat at Furness when they host an attractive game at the Ernest Valentine Ground with Cockermouth.
It was a strange start to the season for Cockermouth with early concerns over their square and a surprise defeat against Whitehaven. But they have been showing more healthier signs recently with a very good win at Furness backed-up by a tense home success against Egremont.
The Higson Cup win at Carlisle will also have increased confidence ahead of their visit to Workington.
Egremont have been involved in last ball contests for two successive games now. They couldn’t be separated at Keswick and the game ended in a tie while they just lost out to Cockermouth on Saturday.
They have a Copeland derby to look forward to now when they entertain Cleator who have won two and lost three of their games so far. It’s probably fair to say that both sides will fancy their chances of winning this one.
Keswick won their first game last week, and have only lost one too, but remain in the bottom four ahead of their home game with Millom.
Although it ended in defeat to Carlisle, Millom had gone into last week’s game with some confidence after a solid start to the season and they will still be optimistic on their chances at Fitz Park.
Furness showed their potential last week in the big win over early League leaders Workington and will want to build on that at Haverigg as they lie third in the table seven points behind Carlisle and five below Workington.
Whitehaven only have Egremont and Wigton below them in the table but a trip to Lindal Moor is one they will presumably have targeted to get themselves moving in the right direction. One can also assume that Lindal Moor will fancy their chances of building even more on a decent start to the season.
