Cumbria’s three sides in the bottom half of Regional 2 North all face daunting fixtures on Saturday.
Aspatria are probably safe, as they lead the bottom six and have 15 points in hand on Stockton who occupy the second relegation spot.
But they will want to get more points on the board wherever possible, although this test at Bower Park is the toughest possible as they host leaders Morpeth.
The Black Reds fought hard for a 12-12 draw at South Shields Westoe last week, while Morpeth just held on to beat Middlesbrough 16-15.
Which suggests that Carlisle will have their work cut out to get anything at Middlesbrough. Their hosts are fourth in the table and are the only team to win at Penrith this season.
However, all is not lost for bottom-of-the-table Carlisle as their performance in a 31-24 home defeat by Percy Park was much more encouraging for them. It was easily their most complete performance so far and will have given coach George Graham hope that they can achieve what looked impossible before Christmas.
Penrith are just one point behind leaders Morpeth who are due at Winters Park next month.
On Saturday they entertain neighbours Keswick who are battling to stay at this level, currently just one point clear of the drop zone.
Keswick’s home game with Northern was called-off last week and although they have lost ten of their 14 games have much the best points differential among the bottom four.
It’s week two in the Counties 1 Cumbria split programme in which Wigton put in the best performance in the top half games.
Despite being under-strength they went to Egremont and won 19-17, probably their best result of the season so far.
Stuart Carruthers, Stephen Harris and Matthew Harrison scored the Wigton tries with Carruthers converting two. Dylan Biggins (2) and Joe Moore scored the Egremont tries.
Upper Eden beat Millom 66-0 while the Cockermouth v Whitehaven game was postponed.
Results in the bottom half were: Hawcoat Park 17, Creighton 5; Silloth 12, Penrith A 10; Workington 5, St. Benedict’s 5.
The stand-out game on Saturday is Upper Eden at home to Cockermouth which proved such an entertaining and close-run fixture in the first half of the season.
Millom entertain Wigton and Whitehaven host Egremont in a Copeland derby.
The bottom half games are: Creighton v Silloth; St Benedict’s v Hawcoat Park and Workington v Penrith A.
