Cumbrian rugby union clubs are back in action on Saturday with the start of the 2024/25 League season.
Carlisle open their campaign back at a higher level after winning the Counties 1 Cumbria title last season.
Although beaten by a late penalty (34-31) in their Cumbria County Cup-tie with Upper Eden last Friday, it was an encouraging effort against a side who came to terms last season with life in Regional Two North.
It won’t have been lost on Carlisle that they are following the same path taken by Upper Eden – from Cumbria League champions to playing in the much tougher Regional Two North.
Their opening game is at Warwick Road so they will want to start on the right foot with a positive performance, topped by a win against Durham City. Martin Maughan is the man with the whistle.
There are also two Cumbrian derby games to whet the appetite for rugby again with matches at Kirkby Lonsdale and Upper Eden.
Aspatria, with new coach Andy Brown settled in nicely, travel to Kirkby Lonsdale while Keswick make the short trip to Pennine Park. Martin Denvir will referee at Kirkby Lonsdale with Archie Harding officiating at Upper Eden.
Kendal and Penrith are still the highest-ranked sides in the county playing their rugby again in Regional One North West.
Kendal start at home to Wirral while Penrith travel to Stockport, interesting games given their finishing positions last season – Wirral were fourth; Kendal sixth, Stockport 7th and Penrith 8th.
Ollie Rose is a notable arrival at Kendal from Upper Eden and the Mint Bridge coaching team was encouraged by the side’s performance in a final friendly work-out at Wharfedale last week which finished 38-31 to the National Two North side.
Penrith will be keen to avoid the poor start they made last season, which was largely due to a huge injury list and have been reasonable satisfied with their preparations which included a 36-12 friendly win over Dumfries.
There’s a full programme of games in the Counties 1 Cumbria headed by the returning Ambleside at home to Creighton when senior referee Mike Firby will be starting his 52nd season out in the middle.
The other games are: Egremont v Whitehaven (Roger Moffatt); St Benedict’s v Penrith 2nds (Alistair Jones); Aspatria 2nds v Workington (Alan Jenkinson); Keswick 2nds v Millom (Jonny Watson); Wigton v Hawcoat Park (Jim Donald).
The season actually starts at Penrith on Friday night where the home club take on Wigton at Under-18s level with Simon Barker in charge.
