Match of the day on Saturday is the top of the table battle in Regional 2 North when Penrith go to Morpeth.
The Cumbrians have made an excellent start to the season, with only one defeat in eight games to sit five points behind their hosts.
Morpeth boast a 100 per cent record with a maximum points return from their eight fixtures.
Word around the circuit is that Morpeth are a bit special and are red hot favourites to win the title.
But that won’t concern Penrith, who have hit a rich vein of form themselves and the only blip was a home defeat to third-placed Middlesbrough (four points behind).
There has been much praise directed towards Penrith’s back division, a pacey and talented group with match-winners aplenty.
But the key might be how Penrith cope upfront as Morpeth’s success owes a lot to their power in the pack.
It’s a fascinating contest in prospect and Penrith will not be short of support in the north east.
Penrith are the exception to the rule for Cumbria in Regional Two North as their three neighbours are all battling to avoid the bottom two.
Unfortunately Carlisle appear to be nailed to the floor after their 65-0 defeat at Aspatria last week. They are bottom with only a point to show for their efforts.
Tomorrow they host Northern who were beaten 26-8 at home by the leaders last week.
Northern sit fifth in the table with four wins and four defeats so far.
Carlisle’s season has been a nightmare so far with new coach George Graham trying to rebuild but having to contend with a stack of injuries.
Aspatria have two wins to their name, both big ones to see off – South Shields Westoe and Carlisle – which have given them enough confidence to feel they can climb the table.
Tomorrow they travel to Consett with a genuine chance of registering their first away win.
Their hosts have won three of eight, plus a draw, to sit seven points better off than the Cumbrians. But they put up a decent effort at Middlesbrough last week before going down 35-27.
Keswick rose to fifth bottom with an 18-15 home win over Stockton last week and have a crucial match in the north east tomorrow.
They travel to South Shields Westoe who are just a point behind them in the table.
It’s these bottom six clashes, that both Aspatria and Keswick are engaged in this weekend which will determine how they fare at the end of the season.
The landscape is no better for Cumbria in Regional 1 North West where Kirkby Lonsdale are bottom without a point and Kendal are just three places above them.
Kirkby Lonsdale were hammered 118-3 at Lymm while Kendal went down 53-26 at Macclesfield.
Both teams are at home on Saturday when they face fairly stiff opposition.
Well certainly at the moment everyone is tough for Kirkby Lonsdale and they entertain Kendal’s recent conquerors Macclesfield.
Kendal, whose recent problems have been part created by a crop of injuries, particularly in the back division, host Manchester.
The city side are 14 points better off than Kendal in fifth but only beat struggling Burnage 37-28 at home last week.
Two fixtures stand out in the Counties 1 Cumbria League – Cockermouth v St Benedict’s and Egremont v Penrith 2nds. Also playing are Workington v Upper Eden; Wigton v Whitehaven and Creighton v Silloth.
