Season’s Preview

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The new season is upon us, and we find ourselves in Counties League Cumbria, where we started many years ago. This is what can happen when you take your eye off the ball, and change priorities and ambition. It was only in 2021-22 that we were in North Premier, with fixtures against Otley, Preston Grasshoppers, Lymm, Billingham, Blackburn, Macclesfield, Rossendale etc etc.
We will renew old friendships and rivalries with our Cumbrian neighbours, with fourteen teams in the league, but the RFU in their wisdom will not let anyone play twenty six league games so they have devised a ‘different’ system, which will be interesting to say the least. Our first league game this Saturday is away to Penrith II, and our first home game is next Saturday 13 Sept against Egremont, kick off 3pm.
Fellow Cumbrian clubs, Kendal and Penrith are playing at Level 5, in the North East One League, both moving from the North West region across to the North East. Kendal entertain Heath at Mint Bridge, whilst Penrith travel to Cleckheaton. Other Cumbrian clubs: Aspatria, Keswick, Wigton and Upper Eden are playing at Level 6, in the North Two league, where we were last season, and a very enjoyable league it was. Opening week games are Aspatria v Wigton, a very local derby, whilst Keswick are at home to Upper Eden in another Cumbrian derby game.
North Ribblesdale after consecutive promotions are now in the Regional system, and are playing at Level 6 in North West Two, along with Vale of Lune. Ribb’s first game being at Douglas, Isle of Man. Vale of Lune are at home to Firwood Waterloo.