Last updated at 12:32, Thursday, 16 August 2012

The Eden Valley Junior League Cup final was contested at Nunwick on Sunday between Caldbeck II and Lanercost II, accompanied by a vociferous crowd and welcome sunshine.

The former were in fine form as Caldbeck, from the lower division, took a 36-run lead into the second innings.

The game of two halves syndrome certainly came into play as Caldbeck batsmen imploded in the second innings, and Lanercost, whose batting in the first was poor, found in Keiron Foster, Kyle May and David Ferguson, that they were not going to make the same mistake twice.

The victory was comfortable, losing one wicket in the process, Keiron Foster, who appropriately won the man of the man award for his endeavours in turning the match in favour of his team.

No change at the top of the Premiership with Scotby maintaining a four-point gap over Caldbeck I with wins against Appleby II and Carlisle II respectively.

There was a marked contrast at Edenside over the two days.

Carlisle II struggled to score against an accurate Caldbeck attack, whilst the following day, with the pitch split into two, over nine hundred runs were scored in the two matches.

Nunwick I finally broke the season’s duck in spectacular style against Carlisle III with a total believed to be a club record, as was two centuries in the same innings. After some abysmal batting performances an opening stand between the two centurions, Graeme Bain and James Bradley, allowed the others to bat with a freedom not seen this season.

Chris Hayes, opening for Edenside Academy, was another centurion against Lowther. In reply the away side, scoring at an impressive rate, ultimately went down fighting.

Carlisle III were in action the following day in a crucial midweek match against Shap. The latter took the majority of the points, but it still leaves them and Nunwick I only with a faint hope of avoiding relegation. Braithwaite virtually booked one of those berths with a comfortable win at Penrith III as Jason Pyke scored a century, with final run coming off the last ball of the innings.

Not that he realised he had accomplished that at the time, he believed that he needed two, but had been given incorrect information from the scorers, one of whom was his dad.

Keswick II assured themselves of promotion from Division Two, their second in successive seasons, following a victory over Wigton III, based around in unbeaten fifth wicket partnership of a century and a half from Jamie d’Leny and Sam Sharp.

Great Corby remain in second place after victory over Wetheral, a position strengthened by Lanercost II’s defeat at Carleton. In Division Three Stainton II and Langholm have the prospect of promotion in their own hands.

Langholm took a big stride to that goal with a six wicket victory against third place Threlkeld whilst Stainton had mixed fortunes.

Only a point away at Nunwick II, the thorn in their side being Paul Glasscott who was caught three short of a century, but redeemed themselves the following day with victory at Keswick III.

And the footnote the record that Great Corby’s Ollie Cowans doesn’t want being reminded of; Saturday’s match saw his fourth successive golden duck, but he did take four wickets.

First published at 11:27, Thursday, 16 August 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk