For the second week in a row Carlisle are involved in the Cumbria League Premier Division’s Match of the Day.
The champions travel to Workington looking for a better performance than last Saturday when a home defeat by Furness cost them the League leadership.
It was Workington who prospered, going top after a comfortable win at Lindal Moor, so tomorrow’s clash at the Valentine Ground is top versus third.
Furness have moved between the pair into second as the 2023 Championship starts to hot up midst similar weather conditions!
It’s Workington leading the way on 72 points, followed by Furness (67) and Carlisle (65)
Interestingly both sides have only lost once – each to Furness, who in turn have been beaten once by Cockermouth.
Fourth-placed Cockermouth (55) were beaten at Workington in a low-scoring game three weeks ago, but were also beaten by Whitehaven in what could prove to be the surprise defeat that undermines their title challenge.
They won by 116 runs at Haverigg last week and are back at Sandair for the visit of Millom who have slipped in recent weeks after a bright start to the season.
Surprise packages so far are Egremont who have climbed to fifth in the table – and could have been even higher as they include a tie in their record and a last ball defeat.
They make the short trip to Whitehaven, which might have been billed as a vital relegation clash a few weeks ago.
It still is for Whitehaven, though, as they have not really been able to build on that excellent win over Cockermouth early in the campaign.
As things stand going into Saturday’s fixtures Whitehaven are third bottom, just four points better-off than Wigton. In between, a point behind the west Cumbrians, are Haverigg.
All three have home games and realistically have chances to pick-up vital points. Whitehaven will fancy their chances of turning-over Egremont, despite their visitors’ rise up the table; Wigton entertain Cleator, who seem to rely heavily on Darren Clark, their excellent top order batsman while Haverigg have a south Cumbrian derby at home to Lindal.
Furness know that a win at home to Keswick would move them top for the first time this season if Carlisle win at Workington.
All ifs and buts at this stage but the Cumbria League title race – and the battle to stay in the top flight – are both really coming to life.
