The weather relented, and despite forecasts to the contrary, all of the Cumbria League Premier Division games were played to a finish last Saturday.
Once again, however, the predictions for this weekend aren’t good but having proved the forecasters were off the mark last week fingers will be tightly crossed they have got it wrong again.
Furness, in particular, will be extra keen to get out in the middle and complete their next fixture for having lost last week’s Match of the Day they face another similarly billed contest.
Having lost at fourth-placed Cockermouth, conceding a League double to the Sandair side which cost them top spot in the table, Furness now visit third-placed Workington.
The south Cumbrians were comfortable winners on their own wicket earlier in the season but this might be a bit different at the Valentine Ground.
Entering the last seven fixtures for everyone the title is still an open contest with the top four all retaining an interest in claiming the championship.
Tomorrow’s clash at the Valentine Ground is one of four key games remaining, the results of which will determine the outcome of the title race.
The others are: Cockermouth v Workington (August 12); Furness v Carlisle (August 19); Carlisle v Workington (Sept 9).
It won’t be lost on Workington skipper Matty Lowden that his side are involved in three of those fixtures and if they win them all it could be enough for them to land the Premier Division crown – but it is a tough task.
Carlisle now lead the table by three points from Furness and have seven points on Workington with 16 in hand of Cockermouth.
On Saturday the city side entertain Millom who, on their day, can be dangerous opponents and will be pleased with their current position of fifth in the table.
Cockermouth also play an improved side as they go to Egremont, who this time last year were fighting to stay in the Division but are currently in the top half of the table.
It’s also getting desperately tight at the bottom – squeaky bum time for three teams in particular.
Haverigg are bottom and entertain Whitehaven, who have improved this season; Cleator, who can’t buy a win at the moment visit Keswick and Lindal Moor host a Wigton side who have pulled away from the foot of the table after a poor start to the season.
So, at the top it reads – Carlisle 117, Furness 114, Workington 110, Cockermouth 101.
At the bottom – Lindal Moor 61, Cleator 58, Haverigg 57.
