It’s the time of the year for hats, gloves, long johns and a hip flask – and concerns that enthusiasts won’t get their weekly rugby union fix.
Saturday’s League programme will undoubtedly suffer as the current cold snap is expected to continue over the weekend.
The Counties 1 Cumbria clubs are due to play their final fixtures of the year but our clubs at the next two levels still have one more game to play next Saturday.
Training will have been geared to playing, whatever the doubts over the weather, and if they do go ahead there are some crucial games in prospect.
Kirkby Lonsdale are having a wretched season and over the first half of fixtures they haven’t a single point to show for their efforts.
In 12 games they have conceded 910 points and last week at Sandbach they were hammered 110-14.
It must be hard taking these heavy defeats each week as they are currently so clearly out of their depth, and on Saturday they face another tough encounter at home to Stockport.
Kendal aren’t having a good season either and are currently third bottom but at least they are 12 points clear of Burnage in the second relegation spot.
It couldn’t be much tougher for Kendal on Saturday, although they do have home advantage, when League leaders Blackburn come to town.
Carlisle, rock bottom of Regional 2 North, had been encouraged by a 31-31 draw with Keswick two weeks ago, but unfortunately were programmed to travel to leaders Morpeth last Saturday where they went down 71-6.
Saturday should be more to their liking as they host Stockton the team immediately above them in the table, eight points better off.
They have recently conceded a double to Aspatria, including last week’s 37-17 home defeat to the Black Reds.
It’s sure to be an emotional day for Penrith at the top end of the table as they play their first game since the death of former skipper Ryan Johnson. Their game last week at home to Percy Park was called off as a mark of respect.
They travel to Middlesbrough, the only side to beat them so far – 38-24 at Winters Park in the third game of the season.
As things have played out Penrith are second in the table eight points clear of fourth-placed Boro – and with a game in hand.
Keswick are battling to avoid any end-of-season relegation fears and are currently four points clear of the drop zone.
Beaten 32-16 at home by Durham City last week they face another top six side, Percy Park away.
Aspatria, likewise, have top six opposition at Bower Park and attractive opposition in third-placed Northern. A recent run of good results have seen them climb to be top of the League’s bottom six in what is a clearly defined split.
In Counties 1 Cumbria the final games of 2022 will be: Egremont v Whitehaven; Creighton v Wigton; Cockermouth v Workington; Millom v Silloth; Hawcoat Park v St Benedict’s.
