RAIN decimated the North Lancs and Cumbria League cricket programme on Saturday, with only four matches played across the three divisions.

It was a good day for Ben Dryden and Ulverston in Division One, as they beat Furness A at Priory Road.

Ulverston went in first and and, with reduced overs in mind, Dryden wasted no time as he hit 98 to see his side to 220 for 5 in their 30 overs.

In reply, Furness were always behind the run-rate required and were all out for 140 in the 30th and final over.

Put in to bat at Seascale in their first division clash, Egremont batted solidly, and – with 68 from Dave Raynor, 27 from Alex Hodgson, and 26 from opener Coady Scott – the visitors were 196 all out in the 33rd over.

Andrew Knott bowled well for Seascale , taking 6 for 52 in 11 overs.

After losing a wicket without scoring, Joe Hammond, 34, and Adam Brown, 29, made some recovery but with nobody else g etting runs, Seascale were all out in the 33rd over for 105.

Egremont’s Mark Ponticelli took 5 for 45 in 11 overs and Alex Hodgson, 3 for 28 in 8.4 overs to get their side an important 10 points.

In the Premier Division, only the Cockermouth versus Carlisle game was played and this was reduced to a 60-over game.

Visitors Carlisle were put in to bat and started well, the top-order taking their side to 115 for 3.

But the necessary acceleration did not occur and when overs ran out, they were 153 for 5. Ernest Kemm top-scored with 42, opener Ben Davidson made 41 and his opening partner, Tom Benn, 30. Cockermouth’s Chris Hodgson returned 3 for 51.

In reply Cockermouth soon made progress, and only lost one wicket getting the necessary runs.

Skipper Gareth White hammered an unbeaten 90, with three sixes and 10 fours, excellently supported by Greg Platten, who made 51 not out, with three sixes and four fours.

This enabled Cockermouth to reach 157 for 1 in the 27th over and take the 10 points.

Fielding first by choice in their Division Two match at Whitehaven A, Ulverston A made an excellent start taking three early wickets.

Jason Spires, with 35, and opener Lee Norman, 31, got Whitehaven back on track and with good tailend support, they were 146 for 8 when their 25 overs were used up.

Ulverston also lost early wickets, and skipper Owain Oxenham’s 33 could not prevent his side losing as they were 105 for 6 when their 25 overs ran out.

Hawcoat Park won a nail-biting Marsden Cup quarter-final clash against Cockermouth seconds on Sunday, the home team scraping through by one wicket.

Batting first, the North Cumbrians made 207 for 6 in their 45 overs, with Andrew Dodds top- scoring with 75 and Tom Norman making 49. Sam Cunningham took 2 for 35 and Callum Lucas, Dom Herbert and Tom Stanwix took one apiece.

Dave Thorburn was the hero at the crease for Hawcoat as he contributed a top-score 66 to the cause. Thorburn got good support in the middle order from Lucas (24) and Pete Thompson (23).

The tail wagged with Stanwix making 24 and number 10 Harrison O’Brien a crucial 25 not out as Hawcoat reached a winning target of 211 for 9 in 40.4 overs.

Barrow had a mixed weekend in the Northern League, with their Division One clash at Fleetwood wiped out by the rain, followed by one win and one defeat in the Readers T20 North.

After being soundly beaten by 68 runs at the hands of Netherfield at Ernest Pass on Sunday, Barrow receiovered to defeat Penrith in their second match of the day.

Glen Kermode’s side restricted Penrith to 105 for 5 in their 20 overs, with the skipper taking 2 for 26 and Sam Henderson, Ryan Gilmour and Gary Collins grabbing one wicket apiece.

The home side reached a winning total of 109 for 4 in 18.5 overs, with pro Grant Roelofsen (25), Ryan Gilmour (22 not out) and Sam Henderson (23 not out) the main contributors.