BEFORE the start of play in the Minor Counties clash between Staffordshire and Cumberland today players, officials and spectators observed a minutes silence in memory of the victims of the Whitehaven gun massacre.

It was in keeping with a national sense of anger, shock and compassion at the outrage and for the family’s of the victims.

All rugby league games across the country observed a minutes silence over the week-end – one of those shot dead was former Whitehaven and Workington pro Garry Purdham whose brother Rob plays for Super League Harlequins.

There was a minutes silence last night, too, at Derwent Park ahead of the Premier League speedway match between Workington Comets and Newcastle Diamonds. One of the victims Darren Rewcastle was a big fan of the Comets and a regular at home meetings.

In the Minor Counties game at Knypersley cricket club the start was delayed 75 minutes until 12-15 after heavy overnight rain.

Staffordshire won the toss and asked Cumberland to take first use of the wicket with James Lowe going out with a new partner in James Clarkson of Richmondshire from the North Yorkshire and South Durham Premier Division.

He was drafted into the side in place of Chris Thompson who was not available to make his Cumberland debut.

Interestingly Clarkson opened the bowling for his club side yesterday in a big eight wicket win over Normanby Hall. He took 5-68 but didn’t appear with the bat.

His opening partner today, Lowe, had scored a half century yesterday in the same League as his side Middlesbrough beat Hartlepool by seven wickets while skipper Gary Pratt, new boy Phil Holdsworth and Dan Conway were all on the losing side for Bishop Auckland against Marton – again in the same League.

Cumberland made a promising start with Lowe dominating an opening stand of 37 before he was trapped leg before by seamer Greg Willott for 28.

Barrow’s John Miles didn’t stay long as he was the next to go for two and at 46-2 Cumberland were just starting to look a little insecure.

Wicket-keeper Paul Goodwin and seamer Dave Edwards had teamed-up to dismiss young Miles and they were also responsible for the departure of new boy James Clarkson for eight as Cumberland limped to 47-3.

Ikram Ullah was the fourth wicket to fall at 60, clean-bowled by Edwards for eight.

Skipper Gary Pratt and debutant Phil Holdsworth took the score to 82 before the newcomer became Edwards’ fourth victim for eight.

Pratt also went on the same score caught behind off former Cumberland all-rounder Alex Stead for 20.

But then came the best stand of the innings as James Smith and former Keswick professional Darren Hickey took the score to 131-7, a partnership which fell one short of the half century.

Hickey was trapped leg before by Willott for 17 and then seven runs later Smith was caught behind off Stead for 29.

Conway was clean bowled by Stead without scoring and when Willott had Chris Miller leg before for only three Cumberland had subsided to 141 all out. Edwards finished with 4-54; Stead had 3-36 and Willott took 3-29.

Staffordshire lost only one wicket in the evening session as Conway had Peter Wilshaw trapped leg before for 27. But from 48-1, the hosts had taken the score along to 95-1 at the close, just 46 runs behind.

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