CUMBRIA fell to a narrow defeat to Lancashire B on a day when the skies opened and drenched players from both teams on the Furness Golf Club links.

In a special warm-up match to help celebrate Furness's 145th birthday, Cumbria were unable to build on a 4-2 triumph in the morning foursomes, as they went down 7½-4½ in the afternoon singles and 9½-8½ overall.

Carlisle's Kieran Waters and Ulverston's Luke Walker started the day well for Cumbria in the foursomes, winning on the 18th hole against Paul McFerran and Anthony Stirling.

Home pairing Jon Clarke and Rob Spence took full advantage of their knowledge of the links as they triumphed on the last as well, winning on-up over James Rooney and Callan Barrow.

Further successes for the pairings of Carlisle's Chris Thursby and Brampton's Lee Sturrock, and Penrith's Mike Parker and Furness's Rob Leitch – ensuring home players went undefeated – meant a 4-2 lead for Cumbria after the morning session.

After the chance to warm up and dry off, players set back out for the afternoon session, which at least saw occasional breaks in the rain and brief sunshine for the singles matches.

Despite Walker (4&3 over McFerran) and Spence (one-up against Curtis Clarkin) claiming points at the top of the card for the hosts, it was Lancashire's day.

Clarke, Parker and Workington's Richard Mewse all claimed halves, but that was it as Lancashire had five victories.

Captain Andrew Edwards, of Ulverston, was beaten on the last by Mark Duncalf, though Leitch triumphed 2&1 against Greg Holmes, of Royal Birkdale, in the last game.

Cumbria start their Northern League season at home to Durham, at Seascale, on May 13.

RESULTS

Foursomes: K Waters and L Walker beat P McFerran and A Stirling (one-up); R Spence and J Clarke beat J Rooney and C Barrow (one-up); R Mewse and R Pearson lost to C Clarkin and M Duncalf (4&3); A Edwards and J Crosby lost to R Cranfield and T Winn (3&2); C Thursby and L Sturrock beat G White and A Hoosen (3&2); M Parker and R Leitch beat O Ravenscroft and G Holmes (4&2).

Singles: K Waters lost to J Rooney (one-up); L Walker beat P McFerran (4&3); R Spence beat C Clarkin (one-up); J Clarke halved with R Cranfield; R Mewse halved with A Stirling; R Pearson lost to C Barrow (5&3); A Edwards lost to M Duncalf (one-up); J Crosby lost to T Winn (2&1); C Thursby lost to G White (4&3); L Sturrock lost to A Hoosen (one-up); M Parker halved with O Ravenscroft; R Leitch beat G Holmes (2&1).