It’s Cockermouth’s turn to have the trickier fixture than Carlisle as the battle for the Cumbria League’s Premier Division title intensifies over the last few weeks of the season.
Carlisle faced a very slippery banana skin when they travelled to Furness last week without five regulars and no sub professional. But thanks to a fine century from Alex Raybould they came through it with the 10 points intact.
At the same time Cockermouth were notching one of the biggest victories of the season when they thumped Dalton by 271 runs.
This week Cockermouth have to visit local rivals Keswick, who are in their own battle with Whitehaven for third spot. Carlisle meanwhile have a home game with Haverigg, now joint bottom with Egremont and looking the more vulnerable.
With Carlisle leaving to play in the Northern League next season it has been confirmed that the Premier Division will be reduced to ten teams in 2025. It means nobody will be promoted from Division One while the bottom side in the Premier Division will be relegated.
At the moment Seascale and Wetheral are in a great battle for the Division One title, separated by only a point with four games left. Whatever happens it will be another 12 months before they can have eyes set on the Premier Division.
Relegation is an issue in the top flight and with Haverigg on a tough mission at Carlisle, their fellow strugglers Egremont will hope they can surprise neighbours Whitehaven at the Playground.
Egremont and Haverigg are both on 59 and the two sides immediately above them, and still not out of danger, are Cleator (68) and Workington (72) who meet at the J. D. Campbell Memorial Ground.
Cleator won at the Valentine Ground earlier in the season but were embarrassed last week to be skittled for just 34 at Millom.
Workington also lost, but it was a decent show from the west Cumbrians as they lost out by 15 runs at home to Keswick.
Millom, who have improved nicely as the season has developed, will be pleased how pro Nathan Waterston has been finding runs easier to come by, but also by the form of some of their talented youngsters.
It’s an interesting one for Waterston who goes back to his former club Furness for the first time.
The other game sees Dalton at home to Wigton and two sides who were well beaten last week, particularly the hosts at Cockermouth.
Wigton welcome back 21-year-old wicket-keeper Matthew Reed who made his debut for Cumbria this week against Norfolk and did well.
Reed follows other previous County caps playing for Wigton – notably Michael Slack, Chris Hodgson and Nico Watt.
