A combination of poor weather in the north of the county and clubs struggling to get teams together (holidays and the commencement of football and rugby) resulted in a reduced Eden Valley Cricket League programme.

In the Premiership, Rockcliffe and Kirkby Stephen fell to the weather.

Caldbeck (133/6) beat Lanercost (130/10) by four wickets; Lawrence Baldwin (74) holding the Lanercost innings together; Kevin Pattinson (3/25) and Liam Bell (3/21) the main wicket-takers. After an early scare, Caldbeck eased to victory; Rob Benn (35) top-scoring; Jonathan Robley (4/52) with the ball.

Threlkeld (236/9) beat Temple Sowerby (169/10) by 67 runs; Jamie Lihou (89), Ben Sharp (59) and Ben Jefferson (57) with Andrew Muncaster (6/69) best with the ball.

Temple Sowerby’s reply centred on James Farmer (70) and Michael Swindle (54); Sam Sharp (3/13), Ben Sharp (3/45) and Dan Thompson (3/25) the wicket takers. Strange feature of this game; in a total of 405 runs, five batsmen plus extras totalled 368 runs. The other 17 who batted managing just 37 between them.

Braithwaite (209/10), with Tom Smith (92) and Peter Sutton (46), proved too much for Staffield (153/10) winning by 56 runs; Mark Vasey (5/32) best with the ball; Tony Threlkeld (75) and Richard Bamber (31) the only batsmen offering much as Lee Zaninetti (5/34) restricted the home side’s chase.

Carlisle 2nds (168/2) got the better of a draw at Stainton (129/4); Ed Mitchell (89 not out) leading the way.

Stainton (129/4) battling hard for their points with Martin Hall (45), Jonathan Greenwood (31) and Richard Dadley (28 not out) to the fore.

In Division One, Keswick 2nds had a comprehensive nine-wicket win over Carlisle 3rds.

Asked to bat first, Carlisle (146/10) with Paul Halliday (46) and Christophe Vever (34); Moses John (3/41) and Jamie D’Leny (3/41) the best of the bowlers. Keswick (149/1) raced to victory with Paul Ireland (75 not out) and Karl Link (38 not out).

Appleby Eden (247/6) proved too strong for Nunwick (163/10); Morgan Fothergill (81 not out) and Chris Beckwith (70) best in a solid batting performance; young Callum McDonald (2/40) showing promise with the ball.

Nunwick’s reply stuttered along until a late flourish from Jake Allen (46 not out) took them closer; Carl Hodder (4/54) best of the bowlers.

Langholm and Edenhall fell victim to the weather.

Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash saw Scotby (161/9) beating Wigton 2nds (88/10) by 73 runs to virtually clinch the title.

Solid batting by James Swann (55) supported by Andy Teasdale (22) and Olly Driver (24) gave Scotby a competitive total; Thomas Peille (3/30) best with the ball. Wigton in their reply never threatened, losing wickets regularly as Dan Swann (4/27), Nick Rigg (2/9) and James Swann (2/3) took the visitors to their win.

In Division Two, Kirkby Stephen 2nds (206/7) had a close and exciting victory over Irthing Vale (205/6), winning with just four balls remaining; Martin Ewin (76) and Nick Crosby (57) giving the visitors a great start; Ben Allinson (3/13) taking some late wickets. Kirkby Stephen’s reply relied heavily on Oliver Rose (92) supported by Alinson (39).

Lanercost 2nds (238/7) with David Ferguson (49), Ryan Proud (43) and Sam Wright (41) batting solidly; Andy Pattinson (5/47) best with the ball.

Caldbeck 2nds (86/8) never threatened; Matthew Burbury (29), last out, holding on to the end as Caldbeck lost by 152 runs; Sam Wright (3/21) outstanding with the ball.

Carleton and Patterdale had walk-overs with Temple Sowerby 2nds and Appleby 2nds unable to raise teams.

In the Sunday League, Penrith 4s (120/9) had a narrow one-wicket victory over Caldbeck Colts (119/10); Ollie Greenwood (4/24) and Ben Johnson (3/25) restricting the home side.

Experience winning the day for Penrith with Charlie Hansford (37) top-scoring; Craig Pattinson (4/12) nearly winning the day for Caldbeck Colts.

It is with sadness that I am having to report the sudden passing of Paul Rudddick of Stainton.

Paul, groundsman, stalwart of the club and a former committee member of the league, will be sadly missed and our thoughts are with his family at this sad time.