
In Regional 1 North West Penrith are looking at fitness issues ahead of their longest trip of the season on Saturday.
Several players were unable to finish last week’s game at Manchester, notably Archie Rattray, Matty Boustead and Jay Rossi. It was a brave effort in adversity to restrict the Manchester win to 48-15.
Saturday’s hosts Newport in Shropshire are new to the League this season and are fresh from a 55-17 win at Leek. Earlier they lost at home 22-17 to Stockport but had started the campaign with a big 60-18 win at Birkenhead Park.
All that puts them third in the table but only a point better off than Penrith who are fifth.
Kendal, continuing to rely on homegrown products, are competing well but have still to gain that first win. It’s a big ask when they go to Anselmians who are second in the table after three successive wins.
The Kendal view is that the players look far fitter than last season, and the more open style of play is better suited to them.
They continue to blood young players who impress and should get better with more experience, The long-term future looks bright, if the short term is proving difficult.
After a promising start to life in Regional 2 North Carlisle were brought sharply down to earth last week.
After a draw and a win at home their first away trip took them to Middlesbrough where they crashed 77-19.
That five-point victory pushed Boro up to second in the table, and now Carlisle have to take on the 100% League leaders Northern at Warwick Road.
It was a very difficult afternoon for Carlisle and the players were suitably disappointed with their performance at Middlesbrough. However, they did in patches see, that they can compete with the best and nearly came away with a try bonus, but they need be more aggressive all round particularly in defence.
It means that some significant improvement is required when they line-up against the League leaders with Simon Barker the appointed referee.
Hopefully they can take a leaf out of Aspatria’s book as they beat the previous leaders Morpeth in a very tight game at Bower Park by 13-12.
Aspatria will feel they are capable of following up when they travel to Consett who have won once in three games – 27-22 a fortnight ago at home to Guisborough, and last week lost 21-18 at Upper Eden.
The Black Reds had been asked for a response after a disappointing performance in defeat at Keswick the week before and new coach Andy Brown got it, to down the League leaders.
Upper Eden are the leading Cumbrian side in Regional 2 North but face a trip into the north east on Saturday to take on West Hartlepool the team two points and one place above them in the table.
It looks tough because West Hartlepool won 12-10 at Middlesbrough and ran leaders Northern close, only losing 38-36. They had a big win, 47-12 at Guisborough last week.
Kirkby Lonsdale got the better of Keswick last week but there was only a converted try between them.
It was their third county derby to start the season but the first one Kirkby had won. Keswick’s only win was an impressive one over Aspatria.
Both have tough games on Saturday. Kirkby Lonsdale go to Middlesbrough and Keswick are at Morpeth.
Counties 1 Cumbria has been disappointing because of the number of walkovers being awarded when clubs can’t raise teams. Creighton, Aspatria again and Workington were the ones who reduced last week’s programme.
In a bid to end walk-overs the League has introduced Game On rules going forward.
Hopefully it will be all go on Saturday when the games scheduled are: Ambleside v Wigton (George Tressider); Aspatria 2nds v Whitehaven ( Matt Duncan); Creighton v Hawcoat Park (Alistair Jones); Keswick 2nds v Penrith 2nds ( Mike Firby); Millom v Egremont (Martin Denvir); Windermere v Cockermouth (Martin Maughan); Workington v St Benedict’s (Jim Donald).