The new league season for the county’s rugby union clubs gets underway tomorrow.
Nowhere is it being anticipated with as much relish as at Wigton.
The Greens step up to Level 6 rugby for the first time in nearly a decade this season as they compete in Regional 2 North.
The opening game provides them with a local derby, probably the most competitive over all the years in Cumbria rugby union.
It’s a trip up the road to Aspatria, reviving memories of fiercely contested clashes of the past.
Coach David Warwick said: “We are under no illusions as to how difficult the step up will be. “Aspatria have recruited lots of players over the summer to bolster their squad.
“At Wigton we have retained most of last season’s squad and a good number of our talented Colts will be stepping up throughout the year to experience senior rugby.
A raft of unavailabilities to senior players at the start of the season gives opportunities to other players to step up and stake a claim for the jersey.
“We will travel to Bower Park as big underdogs, but in local derbies, results don’t always turn out as expected.”
Aspatria coach Andy Brown is a former Wigton player and as indicated by Warwick the Black Reds have boosted their squad with a number of new signings.
Ex-Kendal forward Steve Nelson is probably the most eye-catching recruit while Matthew Atkinson, former Wigton and Aspatria forward, has returned to Bower Park in an assistant coaching role.
Simon Barker will be the man in the middle for the derby clash.
The two other Cumbrian sides in Regional Two North also meet in an early county derby – Keswick v Upper Eden and Martin Denvir will be in charge.
Both clubs have made steady progress on the field over recent years, and although the first priority will still be retaining this level status, they will be looking to improve on last season’s notable efforts.
The other sides in Regional 2 North, and kicking-off tomorrow, are – Durham City v Guisborough, West Hartlepool v Percy Park; Consett v Northern; Morpeth v Sunderland.
Cumbria’s top two sides Penrith and Kendal will now be operating in Regional One North East.
It’s a new challenge in the main against some teams they haven’t played before or not for a number of years.
Penrith, who have lost top forward Archie Rattray to Tynedale, have recruited the Aspatria captain Jack Gaskell who makes his debut at Cleckheaton.
Kendal start with a home game against Heath from Halifax – the two meeting for the first time.
They have made some key signings including centre Alfie Bradshaw from Kirkby Lonsdale and prop Andy Rogers from Penrith.
The other games to start the season are: Blaydon v Alnwick; Harrogate v Middlesbrough; Ilkley v York; Driffield v Sandal.
Counties One Cumbria looks like being a competitive division with Carlisle and Kirkby Lonsdale now together at Level Seven.
Cockermouth and Egremont, along with St. Benedict’s and Whitehaven could give them the most serious opposition.
Carlisle go into the season with a new coach, Graham Kidd replacing George Graham.
The team is being re-built under Kidd with a few senior players retiring and last year’s Colts stepping-up.
It hasn’t helped that they only played 50 minutes of pre-season rugby when a game with Wigton was cut short because of two injuries to opposition players.
A second planned friendly with Gateshead was called-off.
The Counties 1 Cumbria programme is: Ambleside v Whitehaven (Stephen Elliott); Cockermouth v Millom (Jonny Watson); Creighton v St. Benedict’s (Mike Firby); Egremont v Keswick 2nds (Daniel Shovelton); Penrith 2nds v Kirkby Lonsdale (Martin Maughan); Windermere v Hawcoat Park (Paddy Loughran); Workington v Carlisle (Roy Hyslop).
