Cricket

Last updated at 15:04, Thursday, 12 April 2012

THERE’S an earlier start to the 2012 West Allerdale and Copeland Cricket Association season, so the Sandwith Roofing Cup preliminary round match between Cockermouth Academicals and Isel can be played.

The match takes place next Tuesday (April 17) at 6pm at Cockermouth School.

The Accies have beaten Isel in all five meetings in this competition, so are favourites to meet Allonby in the competition proper.

The quarter finals kick off with Sandwith Roofing Cup holders (the sponsors team) versus the Crisp & Rowell Shield holders Royal George.

The winners meet the winners of the Academicals/Isel/Allonby tie in the semi finals & the losers will be favourites to capture the Crisp & Rowell Shield.

In the other half of the draw the Lawyers host BCMS in the second all first Division clash, the winners & losers host the winners & losers of the Workington Juniors v Broughton contest.

BCMS have their work cut out to defend the Downtown Deli Division 1 title and can expect strong challenges from Braithwaite, Sandwith Roofing & the Royal George. Windscale Club. Seascale had a disappointing 2011 campaign, but have the quality to make it a five-way contest for the title. WCLS are likely to be in a relegation dogfight with Division 2 champions Whitehaven Colts.

Cockermouth Academicals, relegated in 2011 are clear favourites win Division 2. Broughton with a great August were runners-up last year, but can’t afford to start so slowly again if they are to return to the top flight. Workington Juniors, Allonby & Isel need much more consistency to pose a threat & Seascale Juniors will aim to climb off the bottom of the division.

The Downtown Deli Cup is split into groups with the top two reaching the semi-finals. The two groups are of uneven strength the champions Windscale Club, Seascale’s group includes BCMS, Sandwith Roofing & WCLS. Runners-up last season and 2011 winners Braithwaite should easily reach the semi-finals, but who of Royal George, Whitehaven Colts & Cockermouth Academicals will join them? Braithwaite’s challenge is to reach the final they are hosting.

The remaining five Division 2 teams are in the reactivated Challenge Vase, with Isel the favourites as they have easily the best record in DDC of the clubs in the competition and the competition is played upon a League basis with the same rules.

WCLS late entries into the Border Leisure League last season defend title in a competition the sees Whitehaven Colts replaced by a second Cockermouth Academicals team.

The season ends with the Workington CC 7s, with their own lads teams as defending champs – but they will have to overcome BCMS in the quarter final. Eternal champions Sandwith Roofing, who along with BCMS missed last year’s rearranged finals, are in the other half of the draw.

First published at 12:00, Thursday, 12 April 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk