Two games in Counties 1 Cumbria were cancelled last week and points awarded, which is worrying with over two months of the League season to run.
Workington called off their game at Carlisle in mid week but St. Benedict’s cried off their trip to Wigton on the morning of the game.
The impending start of the amateur rugby league season is starting to affect some union clubs in the west – as exactly the same happens towards the end of the RL season.
It highlights, again, the need for a wider pool of players for both codes and less of the dual-purpose enthusiasts.
In Counties 1 Cumbria this week both Workington and St. Benedict’s are hoping to get back into action.
The Zebras are at Keswick 2nds while Bennies visit Penrith 2nds. The game at Keswick will be controlled by Northumbria exchange referee Phil Jukes. Jonny Watson has the game at Penrith.
Only two other games are scheduled – Windermere v Egremont (Geirge Tressider); Creighton v Aspatria (Graham Kidd).
It leaves leaders Carlisle without a game again but their second team, the Crusaders are going to Ambleside for a game.
The Lakes club are trying to re-establish themselves this year and have arranged a friendly. Craig Hine will officiate.
In Regional 2 North Upper Eden have decided to concentrate on fighting off relegation and have pulled out of the County Cup semi-final with holders Penrith.
Simon Barker will have charge of Saturday’s game at home to Morpeth with the visitors coming into the game on the back of a narrow home win over Aspatria.
Upper Eden put in a typically spirited performance at home to Northern before going under 19-12.
Cockermouth look destined for a quick return to Counties 1 Cumbria but have a home game tomorrow against West Hartlepool, one of four north east sides battling to breakaway from the three Cumbrian sides at the bottom.
Three Federation exchange referees will be in Cumbria at the week-end, and one of them, Rebecca Rees will have charge of the game at Cockermouth.
Shaun Cox is another, as he will be in charge of the game at Davidson Park between Keswick and Consett.
It’s a contest which Keswick will have targeted in their battle to avoid the drop.
Aspatria have more loftier ambitions – finishing the season in the top three – but which have been rather de-railed recently with defeats to two of the lower sides in Upper Eden and Morpeth.
What better way to break the run than beating the League leaders? That’s on offer this week-end when Percy Park visit Bower Park – and they have lost only once in 16 games! Martin Denvir will referee.
In Regional One North West Penrith don’t have a fixture, so time to take a breath and prepare for a visit from third in the table Blackburn next week.
They can certainly feel pleased with their recent efforts, especially a hard-earned win 43-41 last week at Leek.
That was their second away win in succession and further eased their relegation worries but it was a close run affair.
They were pretty average for an hour and in the final quarter were quite outstanding winning the game in the last play of the game on the back of pure dogged determination.
Kendal don’t have a rest, though, as they visit joint leaders Macclesfield in what is sure to be a testing contest.
