Last updated 19:42, Thursday, 10 July 2008

KIRKBY and Seascale were the only winners in Saturday’s rain-hit programme of the Marston’s North Lancs and Cumbria League.

Lunch time rain in Workington eased in time for the game at the Valentine Ground to start and they were finished before it returned.

Workington Seconds had reached 187-7 founded on good knocks by youngsters Simon Bragg (64) and Nick Wood (61). Mike Etchells was the most successful Kirkby bowler with 3-38.

Although both Kirkby openers went cheaply but a third wicket stand between Peter Tyson (64) and John Thornton (41) put Kirkby on the way to 190-4.

That victory put Kirkby top of division one by a point from Wigton, with Lindal Moor 13 points behind in third.

The other game to survive the weather and produce a positive result was in division two at Seascale where Haverigg Reserves were the visitors.

Put into bat first Seascale overcame some tricky early conditions to eventually declare on 317-5 after 48 overs.

Lee Fleet hit his first century for the club top-scoring with 113. He was ably supported by Adam Brown (46 from 19 balls), Mark Farries (40no), Robin Sparshott (36) and Phil Knott (31no).

In reply Haverigg made Seascale fight all the way for the outright win, eventually being bowled out for 96 in 44.4 overs. Daniel Lee (2-11), Clayton Lee (2-27) and Andy Lee (2/12) did most of the damage for Seascale. Lee Postlethwaite top scored for Haverigg with 31no.

With Seascale's nearest rivals all having their games abandoned without a ball being bowled, their lead at the top of the division is extended to 35 points.

There could have been another result at Keswick but rain intervened to save the home second team from a heavy defeat.

When play ended Keswick were hanging-on at 49-9 as they stumbled in pursuit of Lindal’s 157-3 declared.

West Indian international Gareth Breese a former Durham county player, had made a quick-fire 78 not out for Lindal and he also took 3-15 as Keswick faltered.

The game between Vickerstown and Cleator Seconds was nicely poised when it fell victim to the weather.

Geoff Luxon, the former Barrow rugby league forward, was unbeaten on 55 as Vickerstown had reached 82-4 in pursuit of Cleator’s 176-8.

Mike Ponticelli had top-scored for Cleator with 42 and he had also taken 3-24 when Vickerstown batted.

All the other games - Appleby Eden v Lanercost, Hawcoat Park v Ulverston and Wigton v Egremont - were abandoned without a ball being bowled.

In the premier division there was no play at Dalton v Whitehaven, Haverigg v Workington, Carlisle v Keswick and Millom v Cockermouth.

Duddon SC had scored 78-3 at Penrith when the rain brought an early end.

Most of the play in the premier was at Cleator where the home side were able to gather 16 points from their draw against Furness.

Jordan Clark (81), Robert Mason (76) and Paul Duffett (36) led the way for Cleator in their total of 274-8.

Mike Gadsden (38) and Glen Capstick (33) figured in the Furness reply which had got as far as 132-7 at the close.

Fixtures Premier: Cockermouth v Workington, Duddon v Millom, Furness v Dalton, Haverigg v Carlisle, Keswick v Cleator, Whitehaven v Penrith.

Division one: Cleator Seconds v Keswick Seconds, Egremont v Appleby Eden, Lanercost v Vickerstown, Lindal Moor v Kirkby, Ulverston v Wigton, Workington Seconds v Hawcoat Park.

n Sunday’s Higson Cup semi-finals - Carlisle v Millom and Whitehaven v Keswick - were rained off and are now scheduled for July 20.