Is there going to be a changing of the guard in the Cumbria League’s Premier Division?
Early days, of course, but defeats for Carlisle and Furness in the opening games of the season, and doubts over Cockermouth’s strength to challenge despite a first day win, hints at possible changes to the big three.
Carlisle skipper Michael Slack was spot-on when he predicted a surge from Keswick this season and the champions duly lost at home to the Lakes side in Saturday’s opener.
Keswick do appear to have a stronger squad than they have had for some years – and largely to players who are returning after their availability had been reduced severely.
James McGown was unable to play regularly because of his job with Preston North End football club, but that has changed now and he’s in a different role at Deepdale which allows him to play regularly.
He had a key role in the win at Carlisle as he bowled ten miserly overs for just 14 runs and he took three wickets.
Another young bowler Finn Turnbull is back fit and firing after a troublesome back injury put him out of contention.
Also available now on a regular basis is Arran Davies, an opening bat and wicket-keeper, who has proved his value to the side in previous seasons.
Greg Cameron has played at Penrith for two seasons, and was captain there, but he started his cricketing career with Keswick and has duly returned. He’s also earned himself a place in the Cumbria county side.
The only one of the five with no previous Keswick experience is medium pace bowler Matt Park who has joined from Kendal. He was with the Keswick lads in their winter nets and impressed everyone with his nagging accuracy.
The strength in depth this year is what makes Keswick potential title challengers, and the opening win over the champions was a confident start.
They go to Cleator tomorrow to take on a side who were the day’s unluckiest losers. Playing at Dalton both sides batted 48 overs with the home side making 200-7 and Cleator responding with 201-7.
But because there had been two overs lost to rain in the Dalton innings the Duckworth Lewis Method came into play and the Cleator target was revised to 203.
Cleator had Geeth Kamara as a sub pro last week and they are having to look for another to play against Keswick. Their signed pro Rishabh Tiwari is expected to arrive next week.
Slack and his Carlisle side will be keen to “get back on the horse” as the say and get their season up and running when they make their shortest trip of the campaign to Wigton.
They had runs at the top of the order last week with Ben Davidson, Marc Brown and Slack all getting decent starts but will be looking for more from the support and also their bowling attack.
Wigton can only get better after last week’s mauling by Cockermouth as they were shot out for 57 in under 21 overs.
Their younger players showed signs of blossoming last season and the hope is that will continue and Saturday’s poor show against Cockermouth was just an unfort8unate bad day at the office.
Cockermouth will have been delighted to start with such a comprehensive victory because much has been made about them losing four key players.
Two of the players coming into the side on Saturday Tom Norman (51) and wicket-keeper Chadd Pearson (30) played important roles, while returning professional Shrikhant Mundhe played his part taking 3-16.
Tomorrow the Sandair side will be confident of following-up as they entertain an Egremont side who were well beaten at home by Workington last week.
New pro Rhagav Kupar (20) looked useful in his short stay at the crease and he was also Egremont’s most economical bowler. He will have a major role to play in Egremont’s season.
Workington could be the dark horses for the title. They are a side packed with workmanlike cricketers and as new overseas amateur Jack White blasted 76 off 75 deliveries the west Cumbrians appear to have recruited well from Down Under.
Tomorrow they are at home to Haverigg, whose game with Millom was called off. All cricket grounds have suffered during the last few months but the south Cumbrians appear to have been particularly unfortunate with the affects of the weather.
Millom, with ex-Furness opener Nathan Waterston their new professional, start their season at home to Whitehaven.
The Playground side opened impressively with a win over Furness and this could be the breakthrough season at senior level for their talented juniors, although it was the older heads of Chase Young and Stephen Holliday who played significant roles in the victory.
Furness will be extra keen to get a win in the south Cumbrian derby with Dalton and will have been heartened by their professional’s debut at Whitehaven. Matthew Kleinveldt (58no) top-scored and looked the part.
But, as we said at the start, the big three of Carlisle, Cockermouth and Furness can expect serious challenges to their positions from Keswick, Workington and potential surprise team Whitehaven.
