Penrith’s fight to stay in Regional 1 North East looks like going down to the wire – and a shortage of players isn’t helping.
They will take on Middlesbrough tomorrow in a key contest in the relegation zone – but have had to call off their second team game in Counties 1 Cumbria at Cockermouth.
After a great start to the season it’s been a slide down the table, made tougher by the loss of key players to injuries.
It’s not the first time they’ve had to postpone a second team game as their pool of players has been greatly reduced.
Bottom side Cleckheaton look doomed but the battle is to avoid the relegation play-off game which has been introduced this year.
Penrith are next to bottom, a point behind Middlesbrough so clearly there’s a lot riding on this one.
The Winters Park side will be represented by Jack Gaskell, Lee Chapman, Adam Howe, Ant Davies, Morgan Bland, Scott Lancaster, Greg Wrathall, Sam Wilson, Fraser Nicholson, Rob Coward, Flyn Longrigg, Joe Spencely, Harley Johnson, Jack Mason, Jay Rossi. Subs – Craig Price, Jack Huddart, Ben Littleton. Kick-off is 3pm.
Kendal are nicely place in mid-table – seventh which is top of the bottom half, some 14 points ahead of Penrith.
Dan Bowman’s men have made steady progress from last season and will be looking for success on the road tomorrow when they travel to bottom side Cleckheaton who have only won twice in 18 games.
In Regional 2 North it’s one of those days when all four Cumbrian sides have home fixtures.
Probably the most crucial is at Aspatria where the Black Reds, fighting to avoid a relegation play-off, entertain the league leaders Northern – beaten only once all season.
Aspatria might take heart from the fact that loss came in Cumbria at the hands of Upper Eden, so although results have been disappointing the spirit in the squad seems bright enough.
Young Alex Harding will take charge, emphasising his continued progress with the whistle after coming back from an injury. Whitehaven v Windermere (Jonny Watson).
The other three games in National 2 North in the county are being covered by exchange referees from Durham/Northumberland and Manchester Societies.
Nick Evans has Wigton v West Hartlepool; Ben Hurst takes Upper Eden v Sunderland and Alistair Sweetin has charge of Keswick v Percy Park.
By way of reciprocation Simon Barker travels to the North East to officiate in the game between Consett and Durham City.
The top game in the Counties 1 Cumbria, which could be seen as a title decider, will see Kirkby Lonsdale entertain Carlisle and that is also being controlled by an exchange referee in Morgan Sparke.
Also in Counties 1 Cumbria – Whitehaven v Windermere (Jonny Watson); St Benedict’s v Hawcoat Park (Martin Maughan); Workington v Creighton (Paddy Loughran); Millom v Egremont (Martin Denvir).
Among Sunday’s fixtures are three women’s games – Keswick v Workington (Nathaniel Mitton); Carlisle v Lancaster (Roy Hyslop); Upper Eden v Yarm (Stewart Mounsey).
