Cumbria’s blackball pool team began their season with a tough fixture against a very strong Tyne and Wear side last Sunday.

With a new seniors team being entered it was a chance for the over-40s to try their luck, but despite Tony Pitts winning three out of four frames, Tyne and Wear pulled away to win 16-12.

Next up was the men’s A and B section, and it was another mixed day due to some last minute changes in team selection. Kevin Gilbert and captain Pitts both produced fantastic performances for the A team in winning all four frames, but the team ultimately lost 22-14.

Despite good efforts by captain Lee Chamberlain, Phil Thomas and Darren Anderson, the B team then went down 24-12.

Cumbria, who are mostly made up of players from the Barrow and Furness area, will be hoping their new-look team will have bedded in by the time they host County Durham at the Red River club on June 2.