The Rugby League Masters festival series in the county is now underway with the next one in Barrow on June 18.
The Cumbria County Masters will play in the inter counties festival.
Men’s Masters Rugby League is strictly a social version of the sport for players aged 35-plus and who have retired from competitive rugby.
It is non-competitive with no leagues, no cups and all games end with a 0-0 draw.
The aim is for enjoyment, fitness benefits and social aspects whilst players engage in a version of rugby league modified for the older player.
The most important rule is “everyone has to buy a drink for their opposite number!”
Earlier this month the Cumbria Festival kicked off the Masters series of central festivals for 2022, the first full calendar of festival since 2019.
The Cumbria festival was hosted by Carlisle Masters Rugby League FC who prepared a well organised event,
Ten teams played on three operational pitches with a total of almost 150 players enjoying the wide-open spaces of the large size pitches.
Cumbria was well represented with Barrow, Arlecdon and Carlisle and players from West Cumbria turning out for a variety of teams.
Blackpool, Crosfields, Golborne, Haresfinch, Leigh East made up the North West contingent with North East and Hull Masters joining in from east of the Pennines.
As always at Masters Rugby League festivals it was good to see players helping out other teams, sometimes playing for both sides during the same game,
The festival saw players of all ages, including many 60 and 70-year-olds and even up to 80 turning out.
Indeed, Master of the Day was a well-debated nomination and was quite rightly awarded to North East Masters’ Blue shorter Jim Collins. who had just celebrated his 80th birthday.
A blue shorter is a player aged 80 and over; a gold shorter is aged 60 to 70 while 70 to 80 year olds are green shorters,
Masters Moment went to Arlecdon’s Gold shorter John Wilson for his magnificent line beak and 45 metre sprint to the line to score a very good try.
The final award of the afternoon went to Leigh East Masters as Team of the Festival for their great efforts on and off the pitch.
There is a South Festival being held at Aldershot and Fleet Masters on Saturday 11th June although Cumbria might not be represented.
Anyone thinking of taking up Masters RL should get in touch with Dave Farrell, of West Cumbria Masters, at [email protected] or call 07967123983
