THE Easter weekend opened with two warm up matches for Kendal and Netherfield as the new season got under way.

Kendal played Furness on Saturday dominated the host before winning by 126 runs while Netherfield who played on Sunday defeated Furness by 56 runs.

The Auld Greys who will be captained by Chris Miller dominated Furness in the first innings after posting an imposing total of 185 off 40 overs, before bowling the hosts out for 59.

Kendal made a bad start with the bat when Chris Miller was trapped LBW for 0 by Peter Lawson before a second wicket stand of 76 between Tom Aspinwall and Harry Lee saw Kendal edge their way onto 91.

Furness broke through after Harry Lee picked out M Winskall off the bowling of F Ghumman before Aspinwall departed for an impressive knock of 66 off 76 balls after he was caught and bowled by Garry Thompson.

Kendal was put under some pressure when Garry Thompson picked up the wickets of both Oliver Tyson and Jonathan Rongsen.

Rongsen who is Kendal’s new Professional made a steady start with the bat scoring 20 off 48 balls on debut.

Two more debutants impressed with the bat for Kendal after former Windermere wicket keeper Sam Fletcher scored an undefeated 31 off 33 while New Zealander Thomas Shuker made 29 off 25 balls with Kendal closing on 185.

In reply 3 wickets apiece by Toby Tyson and Jonathan Rongsen as well as a return of 2-8 by Chris Miller saw Kendal rip through Furness who were bowled out for just 59 off 29.4 overs, where Kuldeep Singh and Thomas Shuker claimed one wicket each.

Netherfield were relatively comfortable in their 59 runs against Furness on Sunday however they made bad start with the bat after being reduced onto 27-4 after Ben Barrow, Reece Irving and Finlay Richardson fell to Elliott Maxfield while Josh Dixon departed for 7 after he was caught by Nathan Waterston off the bowling of Josh Shaw.

However, John Mason who made his return to Netherfield recovered the innings after he and Brad Earl who made 34-38 pushed the field onto 96-5.

Once Earl was bowled by Tom O’Donnell, John Mason scored an impressive knock of 67 off 77 balls while debutant Lee Hogg scored 26 and while both departed to Josh Shaw Netherfield closed on 177-7 off 40 overs.

In Netherfield’s reply 2 wickets apiece by Samuel Medhurst, Bertie Medhurst, Oli Wileman and Reece Irving edged Matt Jacksons team closer to victory where John Mason and debutant Louis Backhouse picked up one wicket a piece where Furness were bowled out for 121 off 36 overs.

Kendal host Fulwood and Broughton in the opening league game of the season on Saturday, while Netherfield travel to play Garstang on Saturday before hosting Whitehaven in the National Club Championship on Sunday.