Congratulations to Lanercost and Staffield who are ensured of promotion to the Eden Valley Cricket League Premier Division after their weekend victories.

Appleby now look doomed to be relegated with Stainton and Scotby battling to avoid the drop with them in the Premier Division.

The Division One relegation issue has Keswick 2nds, Nunwick and Wigton 2nds fighting to survive; Appleby 2nds already down.

It has been a traumatic season for Appleby on and off the field, and one hopes the return to their own ground next season will bring about a change in their fortunes.

A change in attitude and commitment from some of the players will be needed, too, if their decline is to be halted.

Most of the Division Two promotion and relegation issues are still to be determined.

Gamblesby are assured of promotion following Lanercost 2nds surprise defeat by Caldbeck 2nds and Edenhall look set to join them. At the bottom, Penrith 3rds, Stainton 2nds and Wigton 3rds, who have completed their programme, are all in danger.

Division Three champions Kirkby Stephen 2nds have had a wonderful first season and, on Sunday, set up the chance of a cup and league double by defeating Wigton 3rds in a rearranged Junior League Cup Semi-Final.

Batting first, they scored an impressive 150 with Duncan Rose and Brandon Jackson leading the way. Wigton 2nds were struggling until James Holyoake smashed a rapid half-century and it was his dismissal that saw the end of Wigton’s chances.

The final against Edenhall takes place this coming Sunday at Nunwick with a 2pm start. It should be a good, close game.

The promotion and relegation issues are the focal point of the season; however, serious consideration must be given to the serious decline of interest in cricket suffered this season by many clubs. The future of a few of the current teams surviving next season is in doubt and the consequence of this may well be a restructuring of the league.

Other leagues are already working on these matters and it to be hoped the League Management Committee are addressing this now in our league, too.

PREMIER LEAGUE:

Carlisle 2nds 65/1. Appleby 64/10. M Shahid (4/12). Carlisle 2nds won by nine wickets.

Kirkby Stephen 223/5. R Davies (81), C Scarr (76).Caldbeck 106/6. Kirkby Stephen won by 117 runs.

Stainton 70/10. G Burne 4/18. Temple Sowerby 71/3. A Craig (47 n.o). Temple Sowerby won by seven wickets.

Threlkeld v Rockcliffe – abandoned – ground unfit.

DIVISION ONE:

Lanercost 84/4. Wigton 2nds 83/6. R Wilson (5.1-4-1-5). Lanercost won by six wickets.

Langholm 135/10. T Steele (74), T O’Neill (5/12). Staffield 161/6. R O’Neill (51). Staffield won by 26 runs.

Nunwick v Appleby 2nds – Appleby conceded.

Wetheral v Carlisle 3rds – Carlisle 3rds conceded.

DIVISION TWO:

Caldbeck 125/10. Lanercost 2nds 82/10. Caldbeck won by 43 runs.

Penrith 4ths 103/6. Wigton 3rds 104/1. Wigton 3rds won by nine wickets.

Stainton 2nds 174/8. B Dixon (62). Penrith 3rds 49/10. Stainton 2nds won by 125 runs.

DIVISION THREE:

Keswick 3rds 140/8. Patterdale 114/10. Keswick 3rds won by 26 runs.

JUNIOR CUP:

Kirkby Stephen 2nds beat Wigton 3rds.