League Two in the National Conference provides the main talking point ahead of the final week of the regular season.
Theoretically either one of the three Cumbrian clubs – Millom, Ellenborough or Barrow Island – could be relegated.
Conversely none of them would go down, as it all depends on how the final fixtures pan out.
The key game is Pilkington Recs v Millom and if the Woollybacks win that, it opens up the escape route for Barrow Island.
Currently third bottom in the final relegation position the Islanders would need to beat visitors Thornhill Trojans and they would move above Pilkington on points difference.
That would leave Ellenborough vulnerable, unless they can beat Normanton Knights at Maryport.
So still a few ifs and buts and maybes about the final games but the bottom line is if they can all win then they will be certain of three Cumbrian clubs playing Division Two rugby again next season.
Ellenborough coach Paul Gorge said: “We will be getting the lads fired up for this one against Normanton because we desperately want to stay in this division next year. We don’t want to be relying on other results.
“I think in most of the games this season we have been competitive and not been losing by many, although last week at Wigan St Jude’s we were second-best in every department and they are the best team we’ve played.”
All things have been sorted in the Premier Division where sadly Egremont Rangers and Kells are bound for Division One, while Wath Brow Hornets are certain to finish fifth.
There’s only a bit of pride at stake for the bottom two ads they complete their fixtures away from home. Egremont go to York Acorn, who are battling Lock Lane for the final play-off spot.
In contrast, Thatto Heath who entertain Kells need the points to avoid joining the Cumbrians in League One.
Wath Brow have a very attractive home game with West Hull, currently second in the table one point behind leaders Siddal.
In Division Three Hensingham are on the cusp of promotion and will be firm favourites to win their last game at home to bottom side Featherstone Lions.
Coach Kris Coward, who has impressed a lot of people in the way he has led this Hensingham side this season, deserves a lot of credit but is happy to let his players do the talking.
He has been damping down any complacency during the week after Saturday’s fine win over Distington and is looking for a performance worthy of their lofty League position.
“It’s about preparing properly, keeping the lads grounded and hopefully getting promoted,” said Coward.
Distington, meanwhile, look like missing out on automatic promotion after leading the table for most of the season.
They will have to do it through the play-offs and tomorrow have a trip to Beverley ahead of them.
Coach Aiden Worthington said: “Hensingham deserved the win last week so we just have to do it through the play-offs. We have lost some key players to injuries but the young lads in our squad have gained some invaluable experiences this season.”
Seaton won’t be sad to see the back of this current season, especially coach Gus Frazer who has had an almost weekly battle trying to muster enough players to represent the club on the field.
Too often he’s had to rely on club stalwarts, long past their peak, turning out again to help them out.
They were due at Milford tomorrow and the Conference still expects them to travel to Featherstone Lions next week for a game which was postponed earlier in the season when they couldn’t get a team.
Now the Milford game has been postponed because Seaton could only raise 12 players who were fit to travel. They currently have eight on the injured list.
