An ability to bounce back after a setback is the sign of a positive mentality. Kirkby Stephen showed just that after their first defeat of the season the previous week.

That will now be forgotten after a what only can be described as a comprehensive Eden Valley league win at home to Staffield.

Captain Chris Tuer must have been rueing the decision to field, although that probably wasn’t on his mind when he dismissed opener Chris Scarr when the score was eleven.

However, unbeaten centuries from Charlie Bowman and Rob Hook led to an unbroken second-wicket partnership of 285, a daunting target to reach for any other aspiring pairing.

Staffield were never really in the hunt but they did utilise all the overs available to them; useful batting practice for the weeks ahead. Temple Sowerby enjoyed success against in the local derby against Appleby, thanks to an eye-catching performance from George Burne.

After a steady opening from Joe Davidson and Josh Brabbins the appearance of the first change bowlers, Burne and Jack Overs completely changed the complexion of the game, taking all ten wickets between them.

Appleby’s Ryan Davidson was treated with respect, but not the remainder as James Nicholson’s half century will testify; it included six sixes. Newly promoted Wigton II are finding life in the Premiership difficult.

A nine-wicket loss last week as followed by a ten wicket home defeat to Caldbeck. It is a young side, and there is some spirit amongst the team. The half century was reached with seven wickets down, due to a penetrative spell from Jack Proudlock.

However, an eight-wicket stand between John Reed and Callum Dodd doubled that score, and, although ultimately it wasn’t sufficient, the personal half century for Reed should be a reminder to others of what is possible. Steve Blake and Robert Benn made light work of the task in hand with undefeated half centuries of their own.

Braithwaite succumbed to Stainton’s bowling attack spectacularly with only Harry Rigby reaching double figures. Stewart Marshall took only took two wickets, but the pressure of his accuracy, only six runs conceded in ten overs, allowed others to prosper. Jonny Ridley and Dean Johnston ensured that Stainton’s innings didn’t go in the same direction.

Geographically Scotby and Wetheral are not that far apart, thus so at the top of Division One. Scotby close the gap on their neighbours with the best of a winning draw set up by half centuries from the Swann brothers, James and Dan, accompanied by another from Olly Driver.

Similar scores from Giles Vasey and Matthew Wood rescued a point for the league leaders.

At Threlkeld, visitors Langholm paid the penalty for not batting out their overs. Brothers Park built a platform but found very little support. In reply, the home side used more overs but overhauled the total losing just three wickets.

The two teams met the following day at the Nunwick 8s tournament (with Langholm victorious), and intriguingly meet again this week in the Cup competition.

Taking in the performances of the two Penrith teams there is a remarkable symmetry in their tenacious weekend performances. Both finished nine wickets down but managed to hold out for a draw.

Carlisle opener Chris Hayes was the anchor to Carlisle III’s innings, but Penrith III made a spirited attempt, ultimately finishing eleven runs short. The fourth team finished eighteen runs adrift of a large Keswick III total.

Oscar Link top scored, with his dad, Karl chipping in down the order.

That individual total was superseded by Penrith’s Matthew Lowes, who was last man out, seriously close to a century.

That Penrith came that close to their target was due to an unlikely eighth wicket partnership of 65 between Lowes and Oliver Langley before Lowes became Adam Shaw’s fourth victim.

This match was very egalitarian; eighteen of the twenty two players on show were given the opportunity of a bowl by their respective captains. With Division Two leaders Carleton have a weekend off it gave the opportunity to Carlisle III and Lanercost I to close the gap at the top.

Lanercost had a fairly bloodless victory at home to Wigton III, their third successive victory after two early season defeats.

RESULTS

PREMIERSHIP

Appleby (h) 104 in 27.1 overs (Joe Davidson 42, George Burne 9.1-3-28-7, Jack Overs 7-2-21-3) lost Temple Sowerby 105/4 in 21 overs (James Nicholson 55, James Farmer 28no, Ryan Davidson 9-2-26-2)

Kirkby Stephen (h) 296/1 in 40 overs (Charlie Bowman 144no, Rob Hook 138no) beat Staffield 174/5 in 40 overs (Chris Tuer 36, Steve Thomlinson 53, Mark Vasey 35no, Ross Davies 10-1-35-1, Rob Hook 10-3-33-1, Dan Todd 9-0-32-3)

Braithwaite 50 in 29.1 overs (John Welch 7-2-21-4, Stewart Marshall 10-6-6-2, Martin Ruddick 8-1-17-2, Scott Lancaster 4.1-2-1-2) lost Stainton (h) 54/0 in overs (Jonathan Ridley 28no)

Wigton (h) 130 in 38.5 overs (John Reed 56, Callum Donald 10-3-13-1, Jack Proudlock 10-2-33-5, Kevin Pattinson 7-1-27-2) lost Caldbeck 131/0 in 22.3 overs (Steve Blake 58no, Robert Benn 59no)

DIVISION ONE

Scotby (h) 260/7 in 40 overs (James Swann 70, Olly Driver 54, Dan Swann 59no) drew Wetheral 197/6 in 40 overs (Giles Vasey 70, Matthew Wood 58no, Dan Swann 10-1-32-2, William Teasdale 5-0-22-2)

Appleby II 195/9 in 40 overs (Martin Brakewell 37, Jordan Palmer 36, Andrew Gate 10-3-29-3) beat Edenhall 82 in 28.5 overs (Tim Holliday 35, Jordan Palmer 7-2-23-2, Danny Earl 7-2-15-2, Simon Palmer 7-0-25-3)

Langholm (a) 191 in 34 overs (Gregor Park 71, Graham Park 44no) lost Threlkeld (h) 193/3 in 35.3 overs (Lee Meddings 58, Jamie Lihou 39 no, Ollie Dunn 37no)

DIVISION TWO

Patterdale 286/4 in 40 overs beat Lowther 118 in overs

Carlisle III 248/7 in 40 overs (Chris Hayes 101no, Owen Jones 10-0-36-2) drew Penrith III 237/9 in 40 overs (Martyn Burns 30, Jamie Parker 34, Chris Toward 40, Jacob McAlindon 7-0-44-3)

Temple Sowerby II 97 in 32.3 overs lost Stainton II 99/8 in 26.2 overs

Wigton III 89 in 26.4 overs (Callum Griffin 34, Nathan brown 6-0-21-2, Alexander Clark 6-2-8-3, Jonny Robley 3-0-11-2, Ruaridh Kennedy 3-0-12-2) lost Lanercost I 90/4 in 19.1 overs (Callum Griffin 4.1-1-18-2)

DIVISION THREE

Lanercost II 154/9 in 40 overs (Ollie Allen 34no, Phil Corrie 10-5-16-1, Ben Bewley 5-0-19-2, Jake Lyall 9-0-38-2, Mohammed Ashraf 8-1-24-2) beat Irthing Vale 79 in 31.2 overs (Ben Allen 10-2-18-1, Connor Doust 7-0-28-3, Edward Lythgoe 4-1-11-2)

Carlisle IV (h) 129 in 40 overs (Brandon Jackson 8-1-12-3, John Bowman 9-0-20-3) beat Kirkby Stephen II 105 in 21 overs (Ian Cousin 33, Will Clark 4-0-20-5, Luke Westmorland 5-0-13-2)

Keswick III 223/4 in 40 overs (Oscar Link 75, Dan Craghill 39, Karl Link 39no, Jack Winter 8-2-24-0) drew Penrith IV (h) 205/9 in 40 overs (Tobin Hart 34, Matthew Lowes 92, Mark Cameron 10-4-29-1, Adam Shaw 8-2-29-4)