Penrith are looking forward to the challenge ahead after winning promotion last year to Regional 1 North West.
They start with a home game tomorrow against Macclesfield but are under no illusions about how difficult it’s going to be.
Team manager Mike Sanderson said: “Sport is all about testing yourself at the highest level possible and that is where we are. There will be no easy games this season, every Saturday will be a real battle.
“After having a relatively injury free season last year we are starting this season with quite a number. The last time we would field what was arguably our strongest side was the County Cup final back in March, and of that squad eight are not available, seven of them through long term injury.”
There are some positives though. Dan Richardson missed last season following a knee operation and he is back while Matty Boustead is home from his travels and he adds a lot of class to the backs.
Ross Jackson returned for a brief period at the end of last season and is now available on a regular basis.
Teenagers Archie Rattray, Dylan Thompson and Rob Coward are visibly improving and can only get better as time goes on and Penrith always have a crop of promising youngsters ready to step-up and be tested.
Penrith are now in the same League as county rivals Kendal and the Mint Bridge side also start at home against Stockport.
There’s been a change in coaching arrangements with Dan Bowman moving up to head coach. The Cumbria and former Workington coach takes over from Garry Holmes who has moved to Keswick.
They are one of four teams plying their trade in Regional 2 North – Aspatria, who were in the same League with Keswick last year, and newcomers Upper Eden and Cockermouth who won promotion from Counties Cumbria 1.
All four start away from home in the north-east, so testing trips to start with.
At their final pre-season training session last night Aspatria’s focus was clearly on the opening day visit to Middlesbrough. This will be a testing game for the Black Reds as the home side are expected to be one of the promotion contenders come next April.
In last season’s campaign, Middlesbrough achieved a double over Aspatria but in the second half of the season their form dropped away and this resulted in a disappointing 5th place for the North East side. Aspatria finished just two spots behind in 7th place but the gap between the two teams was wide, a full 26 points.
This will leave Aspatria under no illusions that they need to be on top form to get something from the fixture. Middlesbrough start favourites for this one but confidence is high at Bower Park and the Black Reds are not travelling just to make up the numbers.
The Black Reds have lost two playmakers in the back division with Cumbria players, Ryan Scott and Joe Beaty moving to Tynedale to enhance their rugby careers in the National Leagues.
However, the Aspatria coaching team feels that they not only have adequate replacements but also increased depth within the squad. Ahead of the Middlesbrough game, Coach Mike Scott’s main dilemma was who to leave out of his match day 18. Surely a problem he would like to have all season.
On the pitch, Aspatria will be led by a new captain this season. Prop Jack Gaskell will take on this responsibility but he will retain plenty of experience around him with at least three former captains expected to feature in the side.
Aspatria’s extended squad will also benefit from the club’s decision to enter the Eagles second team into the Cumbria League. This will ensure regular competition is available for those players not immediately selected for the 1st XV.
Upper Eden finally gained a deserved promotion by winning the Cumbria League again and they start with a trip to Consett which they are very much looking forward to.
Since the end of last season the Pennine Park side have remained strong, also hoping to be strengthened through the arrival of Josh Winder who played his colts rugby at Upper Eden and fancied returning to the club.
Andrew Major is an exciting player, who has had a break from rugby, but fancied returning and is hoping to burst onto the scene for the start of the new season.
Coach Oli Luke has had the chance to look at his squad in warm-up matches which were against Sunderland and Wensleydale, both well structured teams with strength throughout and a good test.
It will need to be a real squad effort again this season and his general view was that the team performed well in pre-season but there are still lots of little things to work on and most important is that the players continue to enjoy their rugby.
Keswick start their campaign at West Hartlepool looking to improve on last season’s performance when they did well to stay at the same level, although it ended in a fight to avoid relegation.
Garry Holmes, the former Kendal coach is the new man at the helm and optimistic about the club’s chances.
Cockermouth open at Durham City and the club’s preparations appear to have gone very well with the majority of players retained from last season.
The one exception has been Mark Watson who has joined Aspatria but has been wished all the best by the Cockermouth club.
Chris Wright has been asked to step back in as head coach after the departure of Jeff Clare, and that unexpected call has brought a positive reaction from the experienced former Sale Sharks Academy and Manchester forward.
“The excellent Jake Moore has committed to rugby union for the season with an objective of gaining his county cap which we fully endorse.
“Jamie Preston at outside centre will supplement Jake nicely. He has moved over from Westoe and playing in this League last year adds much needed experience to our back line.
“We also have a number of Colts who are very talented players ready to step up to senior rugby and it’s with great pride and excitement that one of them number eight Finley Reed will debut on Saturday.
“It’s great to see Luke Broster back after his rugby league summer and we see great potential in the young scrum-half from Maryport rugby league Chris Ivison and look forward to his development.
“It’s brilliant, also, to see Cockermouth Titans captain Reagan Tinnion signing for the Wasps as he used to travel to Aspatria for his games of rugby union.
“As an ambitious club we want to improve continuously, so thank you to all the new club members, management members, coaches and players who have joined during the off-season.
“Secondly to everyone who has helped with out club upgrade programme the amount of voluntary hours given has been greatly received and the club is looking top class.”
Carlisle will be expected to bounce straight back after losing their Regional 2 North status by winning Counties Cumbria 1 at the first attempt.
They warmed up last week with a promising 27-17 win at Kirkby Lonsdale and start with a home fixture against Penrith 2nds.
There’s a full programme of matches in Cumbria 1 and the other games are: Egremont v Windermere; Millom v Hawcoat Park; St. Benedict’s v Keswick Seconds; Workington v Silloth.
