There are often gloomy views on the future of Cumbrian club rugby, with dwindling numbers of fixtures and players the main topics.
So it was good to hear the opinions of the county’s senior referee who oversaw two games last weekend.
Mike Firby is 79 but takes a match most weekends and managed to fit in two last Saturday and Sunday.
He said: “On Saturday I had the pleasure of refereeing Keswick 2 v Kirkby Lonsdale which was so well covered by Cumbria Crack through Ben Challis’ report and pictures.
“It was a great advert for Cumbria level 7 with excellent, open rugby played in a great spirit proving if clubs get it right there is good rugby available at level 7 in future seasons.
“Then on Sunday my old legs did an Under-18s Colts game at Cockermouth v Caldy and it was Barbarian type rugby played with skill and enthusiasm.
“Everyone at the game was full of praise and was good proof that if clubs can’t find enough players, combining like Keswick and Cockermouth do as the Ospreys can yield benefits.
“The players are there wanting to play and they can help ensure the future of Cumbrian rugby.”
While on the subject of youth rugby there’s plenty going on this weekend as it sees the start of three Sundays of Cumbria Age grade finals.
Playing at Keswick are: Under-14s final – Whitehaven v Creighton ko 11am; Under-15s final – Carlisle v Kirkby Lonsdale ko 12 30; Under-16s final – Carlisle v Cockermouth ko 2pm.
Cumbrian Society referees covering those will be Alistair Jones, Joseph Banford and Alistair Boyle.
There’s also a lot going on at Penrith on Sunday including Newcastle Red Bulls v Sale Sharks at Under-16s level, one of four games which will be covered by a Cumbrian trio of officials in Martin Denvir, Roy Hyslop and Martin Maughan.
There’s also a very important game at Wigton on Sunday when the home club’s Under-18s play Darlington which is a deciding top of the table encounter and will be controlled by Simon Barker.
As far as senior rugby in the county is concerned Penrith, struggling to avoid the drop from Level 5’s Regional 1 North East travel to Blaydon with time and recent results elsewhere going against them.
Kendal are also on their travels to Driffield but can look back on making satisfactory progress this season into solid mid-table.
Aspatria look to be heading for a relegation play-off game whatever happens in their home game with Upper Eden in Regional 2 North (Simon Barker).
Wigton are already down and they entertain Durham City (Jonny Watson) who could be Aspatria’s opponents in the play-off game.
Keswick will finish as Cumbria’s top team in Regional 2 North and entertain Sunderland (Archie Harding).
In Counties 1 Cumbria the battle is on for the top two places and even at this late stage is still uncertain with three clubs pushing for them.
Kirkby Lonsdale are now favourites with 76 points from their 17 games and they are followed by Hawcoat Park and Carlisle, both on 68 from a game less.
Carlisle go to Cockermouth and Hawcoat Park are at Workington to play their catch-up games on their rivals.
Danny Airey will be in charge at Cockermouth and Stephen Elliott has the game at the Zebras.
Other games: Penrith 2nds v Egremont (Mike Firby); Millom v Keswick 2nds (Dan Shovelton); Ambleside v Windermere (Paddy Loughran); Whitehaven v St. Benedict’s (Ciaran Trainor).
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