Any thoughts that Carlisle might struggle moving up a level have been dispelled over the first two months of the season.
The city side are now the leading Cumbrian side in Regional 2 North with Keswick, Aspatria, Upper Eden and Kirkby Lonsdale all trailing them.
Indeed they are the only Cumbrian side in the top half of the table (6th) and if it wasn’t for Guisborough’s poor start (only two points) the other Cumbrians would be stacked up as the bottom four.
Carlisle had gone into last week’s home game with Upper Eden looking for League points but also seeking to avenge a County Cup defeat earlier in the season.
It was nip and tuck in the first-half with Carlisle leading 19-13 at the break but at the end the Warwick Road side had added 12 more points without conceding anything in return.
The tries, in a five-point win, were scored by Finn Kennedy (2), Luke Bell, Freddie Rawling and Vince Lung. Three tries were converted by Lung.
Carlisle have another Cumbrian derby on Saturday when they visit Aspatria who are slow to find their feet this season.
They lost at Durham City last week, although there was promise in a lot of their work and they will be looking to turn that into points at Bower Park.
Upper Eden will want to respond to that Carlisle defeat but have a tough one to follow-up as joint leaders Middlesbrough are the visitors to Pennine Park.
The other two Cumbrian sides are also at home with Keswick hosting Durham City and Kirkby Lonsdale entertaining Consett.
There will be two Federation referees at the Kirkby Lonsdale and Upper Eden fixtures.
Anthony Lowery from Northumberland and Adam Morrison from Durham are the men coming over.
The Cumbria Society also has a three-referee exchange with officials from the Glasgow Society for games at Keswick Aspatria and Wigton.
Martin Maughan, Jonny Watson and Jim Donald are doing games over the border while young Archie Harding is out of the county again at Vale of Lune v Eccles.
In Cumbria Danny Airey has his first Society appointment as part of the double header age grade cup game at Cockermouth v Workington this Saturday with society referee coach Alan Jenkinson.
In Regional 1 North West Penrith will be pleased to have got last week’s trip to leaders Rossendale out of the way.
A depleted side put up a brave effort against a powerful home outfit and were unlucky not to come home with a bonus point from a 51-22 defeat.
They did pick-up a couple more worrying injuries but should have other players back for the visit of third-in-the-table Blackburn.
Kendal lost 33-7 at home to Manchester last week but have something which will undoubtedly be on their targeted list – a trip to bottom side Birkenhead Park.
Their hosts have lost all six games so far and a youthful Kendal side will go keen to make it an unlucky seven!
In the Counties 1 Cumbria League news, which is not entirely unexpected – that Aspatria Eagles have withdrawn.
That’s a serious issue for a club of Aspatria’s standing and one which no doubt will be addressed ahead of a potential return next season.
The other games scheduled are: Whitehaven v Ambleside (Mike Pate); Penrith 2nds v Millom (Mike Firby); Hawcoat Park v Windermere (George Tressider); St Benedict’s v Keswick 2nds (Dan Shovelton); Cockermouth v Workington (Craig Hine); Wigton v Creighton (Exchange).
