League rugby union should come back with a bang on Saturday after the seasonal break and enforced weather absences.
It will be over a month for some clubs since they last played because of the freeze.
What better way to start than with a Cumbrian derby, certainly in Regional 2 North where Aspatria host Keswick.
It should be a lively affair, too, given that Keswick won the home encounter between the two.
The Lakes side got the verdict 14-6 back in October, particularly pleased with their efforts to deny the Black Reds a try.
Since then Aspatria have rallied and are the leading side in the bottom half of a distinctly split League.
Keswick are third bottom, nine points adrift of Aspatria and four points better off than Stockton who currently occupy the second relegation place ahead of Carlisle.
It’s been a difficult first half of the season for the Warwick Road club who need a dramatic improvement to retain their status.
Hopefully there will be a new resolve for the start of a new year which they open at Durham City.
That’s not an easy start to 2023 though as their hosts are fifth in the table with eight wins from their 12 games.
Penrith have certainly been the best Cumbrian side in the section and are very much in contention for the title.
Having beaten the leaders away from home they are just two points behind Morpeth and the only blemish on their record was an early home defeat by Middlesbrough.
They resume the League programme at Northern, the team immediately below them in the table, albeit eight points worse off.
Will 2023 by any kinder to Kirkby Lonsdale? Bottom of Regional 1 North West without a single point it surely can’t get any worse.
They have conceded 910 points in 12 games and have scored 111 themselves.
If they are going to break their duck Saturday is as likely as any as they host Burnage, the team immediately above them in the table.
Burnage have won once in 14 games and have accumulated seven points.
The two look booked for relegation, which is good for Kendal as they are next on the League ladder but some 17 points better off than Burnage.
It’s been a disappointing season so far for the men from Mint Bridge but their cause hasn’t been helped by a string of injuries.
They re-start at home to Wirral who are two places and eight points better off.
In the Cumbria League leaders Upper Eden are waiting for the split having played their first 11 fixtures.
They have arranged a friendly for Friday night against a Penrith side.
The split fixtures – where the top six compete, and the bottom six have their own games over the second half of the season – should be released next week.
Games scheduled for Saturday are: Cockermouth v Workington; Creighton v Wigton; Egremont v Whitehaven and Hawcoat Park v St Benedict’s.
