By Gary Watton
June 28 2014

Most roses appreciate the occasional downpour, but precipitation is not so welcome when the red and white roses intend to lock horns on the cricket field.

Regrettably it was indeed the rain which reigned supreme when the Lancashire Lightning ventured across the Pennines, thereby ruining the eagerly anticipated return fixture of the neighbours' two-legged Twenty20 engagements. Therefore, it is a case of glass half empty and glass half full, because this 'draw' means that the Yorkshire Vikings are unbeaten against their Lancashire adversaries, but perhaps a share of the spoils upset Yorkshire's hopes of securing a league double against their foes to the west. Oh well. It is only when the group stage has been concluded that we will see how valuable this point proves to be, especially if either northern county qualifies or fails to qualify for the quarter finals by the margin of one single point. All will be revealed in due course. In the mean time, the Vikings must prepare for more Twenty20 outings, as the white rose has matches in hand over their group rivals. Whether the Vikings can build upon their recent good run of form is as much at the mercy of the weather as it is at the hands of the opposition.