Counties 1 Cumbria matches on Saturday have not had their referees allocated because of a shortage this weekend.
There are 11 RFU league games still to be appointed, seven of them in Counties 1 Cumbria and only seven Society Referee available.
So as certain clubs have not had sufficient players already this season the Society is waiting until games are confirmed as going ahead before appointing referees. Preference will be given to games played under RFU rules as opposed to matches that might be played under game on rules.
The game on rules have been introduced to allow games to be played when clubs do not have sufficient for a 15-a-side contest. Aspatria A, Workington, Creighton and Ambleside have all suffered so far.
Counties 1 Cumbria games that should be played are: Cockermouth v Ambleside; Egremont v Workington; Hawcoat Park v Aspatria A; Penrith 2nds v Windermere; St. Benedict’s v Creighton; Whitehaven v Keswick 2nds; Wigton v Millom.
Meanwhile Cumbria’ s top-ranked pair of Penrith and Kendal both have home games in Regional 1 North West.
Penrith start the day in seventh place but only four points behind their visitors to Winters Park, Wirral, who are fifth in the table.
The Cumbrians will remember last season’s clash between the pair when Wirral won deep in stoppage time with the last play of the game.
Penrith were 60-19 winners against Keswick last week in the County Cup and face a derby semi-final at Upper Eden.
With League rivals Kendal drawn at Kirkby Lonsdale in the other semi-final it raises the possibility of a Cup final clash between the Regional 1 North West pair.
Kendal, however, have League points on their mind before they can think about that Cup semi-final in early January.
They sit ninth in the table without a win after four games and after a tough run of opening fixtures will surely be focused on picking up that elusive win on Saturday.
They host League newcomers Stoke on Trent who are also seeking their first League win, sitting a point and a place behind the Cumbrians. They also share the same negative points scoring difference at minus 61.
Kendal beat Aspatria last week in the County Cup 43-24 to enjoy that first winning feeling of the season, and will be looking to carry that on.
Aspatria put up a decent effort against a team from the level above and resume their Regional 2 North campaign at Bower Park against West Hartlepool.
It’s sixth against third in the table and if the Black Reds have ambitions to get higher is a game they have to be winning. It promises to be an intriguing contest which could go either way and Simon Barker takes control.
Carlisle are the only one of the five Cumbrian sides in Regional 2 North who have to travel, but their trip into the north east is one they should be relishing.
They visit Guisborough, bottom of the League with only two points to their name, and going there with the right attitude from the first whistle can get them a valuable away win.
Kirkby Lonsdale are three points better-off, and have one win to their name against Keswick, but are next to bottom ahead of their home clash with Morpeth.
They did enjoy a win over Cockermouth last week in the County Cup (29-17), but this is going to be a lot tougher as Morpeth sit fourth in the table, but joint second on points. Martin Denvir is the referee.
Keswick sit third bottom between Kirkby Lonsdale and Carlisle so will want to generate as much as possible from home advantage over Consett who are fifth in the table. Shaun Cox, a Federation referee from the north east, will be in charge.
The fifth Cumbrian side in this Division are Upper Eden, in a comfortable mid-table so far, and they will hope to improve on that when they host Durham City who are a point and a place behind them. Martin Maughan takes the game.
