Penrith continue their fight to stay at Regional 1 North East level with another important home fixture.
A fortnight ago the Winters Park had a narrow, but vital home win over fellow strugglers Middlesbrough but this is a bit tougher.
Middlesbrough are now second bottom with Penrith one place higher while the latest visitors Alnwick are second top.
Alnwick sit nine points behind leaders Heath with three games left and have only lost three times in the league while Penrith have only won five.
It’s a tough test for the Cumbrians but with no games last season Penrith will hopefully had an opportunity to get more players fit and ready to return to the line-up.
No such problems for Kendal who have made steady progress under coach Dan Bowman and can even be looking at a top-half finish.
They are seventh (top of the bottom half) but only five and three points behind the two sides immediately above them, Blaydon and Driffield.
But it is a tough finish to the season for the Mint Bridge men as they host third in the table Harrogate tomorrow; go to Driffield, the side just above them and finish with the hardest of the lot, a visit to leaders and champions elect Heath.
In Regional 2 North it’s Aspatria who are fighting to stay at their present level and two of their last three games are county derby affairs.
They still have to host Upper Eden and make the short trip to Wigton, but of immediate concern is tomorrow’s trip to Sunderland.
Aspatria are currently next to bottom but seven points behind Gainsborough and ten short of Durham City. It’s looking like a play-off relegation scrap to complete the season and know they can only avoid that with a near perfect points tally from these three games.
Sunderland away sees them travel to the club lying fifth in the table, with ten wins from their 19 games.
Keswick are on the road to leaders and champions elect Northern with the Lakes side already eyeing the Easter Saturday County Cup final at Aspatria against Kendal.
The county derby sees relegated Wigton travel to Upper Eden where Jonny Watson will be the man with the whistle.
There are five games in Counties 1 Cumbria but disappointment for promotion-chasing Carlisle as their game with Millom is off as the South Cumbrians are unable to raise a side.
Compensation will be five points to retain their interest in the title race but there’s nothing like playing at this stage of the season for momentum.
Their rivals for the title are Kirkby Lonsdale and Hawcoat Park and they are both in action.
Kirkby Lonsdale visit Keswick 2nds, where a referee still has to be appointed while Hawcoat Park have a home game against Whitehaven with Martin Denvir taking charge.
Creighton are at home to Ambleside (Cieran Trainor) while Cockermouth entertain Egremont (Martin Maughan).
Sunday’s games include women’s matches Workington Finches v Carlisle Cougars (Ben King) and Penrith Ladies v Northallerton Ladies (Danny Airey).
