KENDAL skipper John Trewenneck said: "We basically never turned up against Preston, who remain our bogey team.

"We were guilty of keeping half an eye on the weather on Saturday and it didn't work out for us.

"Preston were just over 100 after the halfway stage and if it had teemed down - as forecast - we could have ended up chasing that figure off 20 overs, but it didn't.

"It was an object lesson in playing with the variables that you can control, and to leave the others alone!

"It can't hide the fact that as a team were had a bad day. We did not bowl straight enough; there was too much width, then our batsmen never got out of the blocks.

"The consolation is that at least the weather means that other teams who were rained off have not stolen a march on us."

Netherfield skipper Scott Clement said: "We piled up the runs to five short of 300 at Carnforth but you have to remember that last year against us they knocked off 260.

"The Pakistani professional Ghulam Ali was a very good bat for us, but I have to pick out Chris Parry who grafted for an excellent 59 against his home-town club.

"Chris is vice-captain again but this year he is more focussed and involved and appears to relish opening the batting.

"We had good, quick knocks from Mark Daly and Ryan Brown again and there was still the likes of Graham Clarke and Tomy Prime to come.

"It could be a case of mixing up the batting a bit this season to give everyone a chance and ensure that they remain in good nick."