An untimely downpour washed out Carlisle’s home encounter with bottom side Dalton in the North Lancs and Cumbria Premier League.

The toss had just been delayed by bad light when the heavens opened above Edenside and the umpires withdrew to the pavilion before formally abandoning play shortly after.

Carlisle captain Marc Brown was left to rue a missed opportunity and said: “We knew the forecast wasn’t helpful, but we were hoping to get enough time to get a game in and build on our recent good form.

“A victory would have consolidated our position in the league and given us real confidence as we gear up for the county cup final in a fortnight.

“We know we have important league games coming up, so we’ll make sure we are well prepared for those.”

Carlisle travel to Workington next week before entertaining table-topping Furness the following Saturday.

“We’d like to think we can cause an upset in those games,” added Brown.

Elsewhere in the Premier Division, top-of-the-league Workington were at Furness Park and put their closest rivals in to bat, in a game reduced to 80 overs.

With 58 from Mark Daly, and 55 from professional Seth Rance, Furness were 212 for 7 when overs ran out.

After tea, the west Cumbrians had to rely on their pro Kaushalya Gajasinghe but his 57 could only help them get to 179 for 9 in their 50 overs.

So, it was 10 points to Furness and four to Workington whose lead is now down to two points.

In the First Division, the match between Whitehaven and Haverigg was reduced to 80 overs.

Taking first knock, Whitehaven were all out for 115.

In reply, Haverigg were soon 10 for 3 but made some recovery due to Robbie Evans’ 35, but were four short of the win when overs ran out with Haverigg on 112 for 9.

In the Second Division, batting first, Dalton struggled against the Kirkby attack, and were all out in the 35th over for 107.

Matthew Holmes, batting at No.7, top-scored with an unbeaten 26. Kirkby’s Mike Etchells returned 5 for 29 in 10 overs.

A very positive reply saw the Kirkby openers, James Thornton, 50 not out, and Paul Fugler, 36 not out, take their side to a 10-wicket win in 24 overs, putting on 108.

Division Two leaders Furness 2nds, in first, were held up by some good Egremont bowling.

Opener George Smith with 44 kept the score ticking over and, with 25 from Joe Arnison and 23 from Harris Woods, the visitors were 130 all out in the 39th over. Egremont’s Coady Scott took 5 for 18 in 8.4 overs.

In reply, Egremont openers Shaun Bostock, with 37, and Coady Scott, 14, gave their side a steady start but there were seven "ducks" in the nine remaining batsmen and Egremont were all out in the 22nd over for 94. Furness bowler Ryan Tyson took 7 for 19 in 8.2 overs.

Division Three leaders Lindal Moor 2nds ran up a massive 274 for 4 in their home game with Egremont Chris Scrogham making 163 and Lee Stephens, 49.

Egremont were never up with the needed run-rate and were 137 all out. Lee Cruden top-scored with 30. The Moor’s Megan Smith took 3 for 18 in 6 overs.

Put in to bat, Whitehaven were never comfortable against Haverigg and were all out in the 36th over for 76, Craig Armstrong taking 4 for 21.

Haverigg also found run making difficult but got to 80 for 6 to win in the 33rd over mainly due to Gav Chesher’s unbeaten 33.