Top match in the Cumbria League’s Premier Division tomorrow could be in West Cumbria – the traditionally hard-fought derby between Whitehaven and Workington.
Whitehaven have been gradually building up an arsenal of promising young cricketers and this could be the season they deliver alongside able pro Terance Warde, experienced skipper Steve Holliday and the explosive Chase Young.
One of the talented teenagers with the club is Kian Larmour who passed a significant milestone last weekend in the memorial game for Danny Lee. Still only 16 he has now scored over 2,000 runs for the club and will be looking to add to that impressive tally in the first team.
They are up against Workington, a team recognised throughout the league as one of the most workmanlike in the competition – no stand-out stars but packed with players capable of providing match-winning performances.
New Australian amateur Jack White already has a half century to his name and his pugnacious style suggests there are more where that came from.
After their victory over the champions Carlisle in the opening game of the season Keswick have emerged as potential title contenders with their reinforced squad for 2024.
They were unable to follow-up last week as their game at Cleator was abandoned and now face Furness at Fitz Park – usually a tasty clash and one that identified potential championship ambitions.
There is a general view across the league that Furness are not as strong this season, reason enough for the side to go out and prove the doubters wrong. In new pro Matthew Kleinveldt they appear to have recruited well and an unbeaten half century in an opening day defeat at Whitehaven hinted at plenty oif runs to come.
Looking at teams that early results suggest may struggle towards the wrong end of the table, Egremont and Wigton both come into that category and they meet at Gillfoot.
Both have played twice and been beaten in both so points will be vital when they come up against each other. Raghav Kupar, the new Egremont overseas amateur has top-scored twice and looks a tide batsman and they will certainly be looking forward to his contributions over the next four months.
Wigton made significant progress last season and won’t want to go backwards this time round with some talented younger players in their group.
Both those sides have lost to Cockermouth, about whom there was much speculation at the start of the season after losing four good players.
Tomorrow they travel to Haverigg who were beaten in a tight game at Workington last week so this might be a bigger test for the men from Sandair who are relying on promoted second teamers to fill the gaps left by Matthew Siddall, Sam Sharp, Gareth White and Sam Scully.
Spare a thought for Millom who have had both games abandoned so far and new pro Nathan Waterston is itching to get his side out onto the field.
Well weather prospects are better for tomorrow when they have a south Cumbrian derby to look forward to at Dalton who did play on the opening day and beat Cleator in a very contest which was decided by the Duckworth Lewis Method.
Cleator were as bit unlucky in that one, and were rained off last week, so will be keen to make amends tomorrow but they do face a toughie, a trip to Edenside to take on champions Carlisle.
Their signed professional has been delayed and will be here next week so Cleator have former Keswick pro Geeth Kumara deputising at Carlisle. He played for them in the opening game.
Carlisle, who lost to Keswick in their opening fixture, were winners by 64 runs at Wigton last week and will be stirred by that opening day defeat as they continue their hunt for a treble of championship successes.
