Penrith face a tough opening game to their North One West league campaign away at Stockport on Saturday but they can take some confidence from their two trial games.
An excellent performance against higher league opposition Preston Grasshoppers and they then came through a tough physical battle at Cockermouth winning 41-5.
In their second game, they will be hosting Douglas from the Isle of Man who they understand are sailing on the morning of the game. They then have a trip to Vale of Lune and then a Cumbrian derby at home against Kendal.
They have retained the vast majority of their squad and the 18-month break has allowed some players with long-term injuries to regain their fitness, so Matthew Allinson and Steve Cherry are now available.
There are also some handy ‘new old’ faces as Mike Fearon returns to the club after a spell away and Arran Pamphilon who played for the side as a student has moved back home to the town and will start on Saturday in the centre.
Also in the starting lineup is Ben Higgens who has moved into the area after playing some games for Keswick and at 23 years old and 6ft 3ins is a useful addition to the back five.
In their first competitive game of the new season, Stockport hosted Sandbach in the Cheshire Cup Quarter Final on Friday evening.
Against visitors from a higher division, this was always going to be a hard game and a good test for the strong squad Stockport had available.
Despite some good possession, strong tackling and a positive approach, Stockport were unable to gain any significant territorial advantage and with vulnerability to pace out wide were unable to contain the visitors who won 35-12 to go through to the semi-final.
