The battle for the Cumbria League’s Premier Division title intensified at the weekend with new league leaders.
Furness went top for the first time this season when they beat Keswick, while previous leaders Workington were losing a thriller by two wickets at home to Carlisle.
So approaching the half-way stage of the campaign Furness lead by a point from Workington with Carlisle a point further away in third.
All three top teams are away from home tomorrow and will be looking to maintain their respective challenges for the title.
Workington probably have the toughest on paper, at Keswick, even though their hosts have not had the best of starts to the season through one reason or another.
Keswick have only won two of their first nine matches and are currently third from bottom just six points above the drop zone. That is not the form expected of a side usually challenging strongly in the top four.
Workington will be extra keen to make amends for last week’s defeat by Carlisle and retain their interest in the Championship while Keswick need the points to move away from the threat of relegation.
Carlisle, again on paper (and don’t forget we don’t play on paper), have the easiest task when they travel to a Haverigg side who have slipped to the bottom of the table.
Saturday’s win at the Valentine Ground was the perfect pick-me-up for the city side, beating the League leaders at start of play, a week after losing to Furness.
Furness, having got to the summit will be determined to hang on, and face an interesting test at rejuvenated Egremont who have surprised a lot of people by moving up to fifth in the table.
They have some young, enthusiastic cricketers and a talented professional in Vathsal Govind and it will be interesting to see how they shape against a strong-looking Furness side.
The key game as far as the lower half of the League is concerned is the Copeland derby between Cleator and Whitehaven.
After a reasonable start to the season Cleator have slipped in recent weeks and are eighth, one place and three points better off than Whitehaven in what is becoming a congested lower half of the table.
Wigton have been showing improved form of late, being able to move off the foot of the table, but not by much and every point gained is going to be vital.
Tomorrow they visit Millom who made a good start to the season but have dropped off since then and although sixth have work to do to establish themselves in the top half.
The final game is at Lindal Moor where Cockermouth are the visitors. The Sandair side have to keep on winning to stay in contention as they are currently ten points behind third-placed Carlisle.
A surprise defeat against Whitehaven early in the season is still the result that threatens to derail their title bid – although they are the only team to have beaten Furness in the League this season.
Lindal Moor are doing reasonably well after last season’s promotion from Division One.
