The weekend’s Eden Valley Cricket League fixtures brought us two thirds of the way through the season and, arriving at the sharp end, shocks often occur.

High-flying Carlisle 2s crashed to a six-wicket defeat at Rockcliffe, never an easy place to visit.

Carlisle (107/10) had only young Charlie Hutchinson (28) contributing with the bat, and extras were the next highest score.

All the Rockcliffe bowlers got in on the act with Mark Wharton (3/18) having the best figures.

Rockcliffe (109/4) got home with no major alarms, skipper John Wharton (30) and Jonathan Musgrave (27 not out) seeing them through.

On Sunday, Rockcliffe concluded a successful weekend with an emphatic 10-wicket win over Temple Sowerby. Unfortunately, no scoresheet has been entered on the website.

These two results have tightened things up at the top of the Premier League with just six points separating the top three of Carlisle 2s, Kirkby Stephen and Rockcliffe. Lanercost, with a game in hand, could also enter the race for the title.

Kirkby Stephen’s challenge nearly came unstuck at Stainton.

Asked to bat first, Stainton (111/10) struggled to cope with the indifferent bounce and accurate bowling; Jon Greenwood (32) coping best until he was undone by the pitch. Rob Hook (4/11) and Craig Carruthers (3/22) doing most damage.

Kirkby Stephen (113/9) did not find it any easier against a determined home side. Losing wickets regularly, a shock was on the cards.

But skipper Charlie Bowman (21 not out), batting at No.9, guided his team home. Thomas Graham (3/27), Ed Tallis (2/10) and Liam Mulholland (1/22) did their utmost to win the game for Stainton.

Nine-man Staffield (209/6) put up a great fight at Caldbeck.

Tony Threlkeld (49), Mark Vasey (100) with 11 sixes and six fours, supported by his son Xander Vasey (6 not out) in adding 71 for the seventh wicket.

Caldbeck (212/6), with Jamie Brownrigg (82), won with a couple of overs left. Steve Thomlinson (3/52), Mark Vasey (1/24 off 10 overs) did best in a determined effort.

Threlkeld (172/10) came out on top in their local derby with Braithwaite.

A solid batting performance down the order from Threlkeld with Dan Pyke (4/38) best for Braithwaite.

Braithwaite (117/10) started well but lost their last seven wickets for just 26 runs, Sam Sharp (4/19) and Ben Jefferson (2/16) the main wicket-takers.

Division One saw emphatic wins by the away sides in all four games.

Gamblesby (91/10) were bowled out in 35 overs with Rob Bland (4/6 in 10 overs) and Johnnie Kidd (4/9) doing the damage.

Edenhall (92/1) raced to victory in 11.4 overs with Matthew Wilson (40 not out) and Jamie Armstrong (48) dealing mostly in boundaries.

Keswick 2s (169/9), with Jamie D’Leny (53 not out), thought they had a competitive score. However, Appleby Eden (172/1) had Joe Davidson (105 not out) back and in fine form as the visitors raced to victory in just 21.5 overs.

Nunwick (92/10) were no match for leaders Wigton 2s (101/3), losing by seven wickets.

Wetheral, likewise, lost by seven wickets at home to Langholm.

Wetheral (92/10) owed everything to Chris Slack (53) in reaching this score. All the Langholm bowlers were in the wickets, Jack Pool (3/27) best of these. Langholm (93/3) cantered to victory.

In Division Two, Appleby Eden 2s (241/8) beat Irthing Vale (78/10) by 163 runs.

Feature of this game was a maiden century for Andrew Lightfoot (101) in his 25th year playing at Appleby; George Winder (51) followed by (7/40) outstanding too as Irthing Vale were routed in just 21.5 overs.

In the Appleby innings, Nadeen Pervaz (4/40) and Andrew Hunter (3/59) did their best to control the Appleby onslaught.

Temple Sowerby 2s (148/10) were no match for Lanercost 2s (285/5) blitzed by David Ferguson (176 not out) with good support from Tom Murray (53).

Ross Jackson (37) and Dave Overs (36) the main contributors as Temple Sowerby fell well short.

Carleton maintained their title challenge with a seven-wicket victory over Caldbeck 2s (153/9) with Steve Percival (51) and Chris Hellon (51). Jim Litherland (5/29) caused most of the problems.

Carleton (157/3) had no trouble chasing down the target, Shaun McDermott (53), Ben Greig (36) and Lee Field (37 not out) seeing them to a winning total.

Penrith 3s sadly had to concede their game against Patterdale.

Sunday’s games featured a good win for Caldbeck (208/8) against Lanercost at The Priory.

Mike Strong (74 no) and Scott Wetherell (41) were the main run-getters, Ben Allen (4/44) best with the ball.

Lanercost (144/10) found Kevin Pattinson (4/49) in good form, reducing the home side to 29/4. Ollie Allen (56) helped the recovery but young spinner Matthew Strong (3/16) ended things.

In Division One, Nunwick (196/5) hammered Carlisle 3s (44/10) by 152 runs.

Sunday League games featured in a comprehensive eight-wicket win for Carlisle 4s (192/2) against Penrith 4s (191/10), with Charlie Walker (103 ret) leading the way for Carlisle and Thomas Reeves (40) providing support.

Caldbeck Colts (205/9) edged a great game against Lanercost Colts (203/7), Elliot Brown (50 retired), Struan Kyle (50 retired) and Jack Baker (45) outstanding with the bat.

A somewhat rare stat saw Matthew Burbery (4/29) starring with the ball.

Caldbeck’s reply had solid batting throughout but it was Joe Nichol (56 not out) who clinched the win in the last over with a six.

Keswick 3s (155/4) beat Wigton 3s (151/10) by six wickets.

Zachary Oldham (69) top-scoring for Wigton; Leslie Shaw (4/9) best with the ball; John Webster (52 retired) guiding Keswick home.

I referred earlier to scoring and, in particular, the late entries on the website of scoresheets.

Annoying, but also in my view disrespectful to the league and the clubs who do comply to the league rules on this.

What it does, however, is to allow me to recognise the regular scorers in the league who greatly assist the clubs and umpires and generally never get a mention, even often taken for granted.

Jennifer Blagden (Lanercost), Les Edmondson (Stainton) and Jayne Strong (Caldbeck) take a bow for the sterling job you do every game for your clubs and, of course, the umpires.