The 'goss' from Kendal and Netherfield CCs by Captains David Fallows and Tommy Prime

So how did the first games go for both clubs?

Tommy: So the first league game of our season looms, then our talisman opening bowler Scott Clement breaks down in a midweek fielding session Great start.

So with Clement out, our two young fast bowlers were Wilson and Nixon. In my opinion they bowled well with scant reward: not much life in a dry wicket.

With Chorley seeing 240, the only thing making me feel OK was Clarky and Wheaty saying "Don't worry we will get these". Clever old men.

So 12 points in the bag and a great start, but a long way to go. The boys seemed to have enjoyed the game and that's why we play.

It was also great to have Dave Wheatman with us on Saturday in the dressing room; he is fighting cancer and doing brilliantly".

Dave: We had a shocker! We couldn't have started any worse . Oh yes we could I forgot about last year. On what turned out to be a good quick bouncy track at Kendal, I lost the toss and we were asked to bat by the new Darwen skipper Chris Lowe.

We got off to a bad start and although the innings was rescued by Simon Little, Korky Fawcett and Richard Ellwood we probably finished 20 short of a competitive score on 135 all out.

We then dropped five catches behind the wicket which made it impossible to restrict Darwen, who on the day took all of their catches and ended up easy victors over an extremely disappointed home team and supporters."

Who do you both play second match?

Dave: Its our turn this week to travel south to Stanley Park Blackpool, where we will be looking to start our winning campaign.

The home side will be led again by key amateur batter Mark Lomas with new professional Deon Kruis, who I'm led to believe is a top class pro.

Although a little run down now, Stanley Park is a great place to play cricket on a huge playing area and a good flat wicket where Lancashire still play County Championship matches."

Tommy: Next comes Fleetwood and Preston in a double weekend with Fleetwood at home on Saturday, again I will be looking for a professional display from all the boys."

So what do the two of you think about the playing format in the league?

Dave: Although it's good for the league to be playing as an ECB Premier League, both financially and for the status, both of us pretty much agree that we would rather be playing a win and lose format, with a points system that reflected that.

Would this format bring more supporters in to watch?

Tommy: We think it possibly would, as spectators know the game would be played in a more positive manner with a clear winner at the end of the day's play.

But what about the traditionalists who want to see draws as part of a day's cricket?

Dave: This could be still taken into account with a bonus point system, to encourage teams to continue scoring or taking wickets instead of shutting up shop or going on the defensive.

I'm not so sure we will both agree as much when the two teams meet in a month's

time !

n Tommy and Dave are interested in hearing your views, do you agree or disagree with any points they have raised, or do you have a cricketing issue you would like discussed in this column? Please write to the Gazette marking your queries Skippers Say', Westmorland Gazette, 22 Stricklandgate Kendal or

e-mail to:

DJF_cricket2000@yahoo.com

April 25, 2003 10:30