A draft proposal for next season’s league structures throughout the country has been doing the rounds in Cumbria this week.
But it has been stressed, these are not set in stone just yet and there may be changes before the finally agreed formula is published.
There are losers in all this – particularly Cockermouth and Upper Eden – who appear to be part of the Cumbria League set-up next season.
Cockermouth have made a decent fist of playing a higher standard in North Two West whilst Upper Eden won the Cumbria League with a 100% record and would like to test themselves higher.
Now the Cumbria League is fine for those clubs who want to concentrate on social rugby but for those who would like to play higher, it’s a blow. Clubs like Wigton and Whitehaven, for sure, would like to be travelling out of the county for games.
Aspatria, too, might be in limbo back in the Cumbria League although there is still some speculation about the club finishing fifth in the Durham Northumberland Division One.
A top-four spot would ensure a place in a new Regional 2K League where Penrith, Carlisle and Keswick have been allocated, and fifth place might just allow them to be included as well.
Much of Cumbria’s problems lie at the doors of numerous Lancashire clubs who don’t want to travel up here, even though it might be just once or twice a season.
There seems to be much more affinity between the county and clubs in the North East, which seems to be the way forward.
With the Cumbrian clubs in Regional 2K are Morpeth, Durham City, Consett, Northern, Percy Park, Middlesbrough, South Shields Westoe and Stockton.
But there has to be most sympathy for Cockermouth and Upper Eden, who have had good seasons but are going to be penalised.
Cockermouth coach Chris Wright said: “We were given the news around Christmas time that we were most likely going back into the Cumbria League.
“The lads were gutted. Of course, we enjoy and respect Cumbria rugby union but this group of players had worked hard over a number of years to get promotion.
“This season they have held their own in North Two West despite being hindered by a glut of injuries which meant we couldn’t field a consistent team.
“It looks as though the Lancashire clubs have got their way. We will be grouped with the North East going forward with referees now part of this area.
“Like everybody else, we wait for official confirmation of where we will be playing.”
Reigning Cumbria League champions Upper Eden were denied promotion two years ago when they were sitting comfortably top when the season had to end early. They haven’t lost a game this time around.
Kendal, currently occupying a top-three place in North One West are provisionally earmarked for Regional 1E alongside Kirkby Lonsdale.
Like Cockermouth, currently in North Two West, St. Benedict’s are provisionally booked for a return to the Cumbria League.
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