By Robert Haile

Cumbria’s rugby union side continued their competitive start to 2024 with wins across all three regional leagues.

In Regional 1 North West Rossendale and Macclesfield continue to go blow for blow at the top of the table as both side picked up victories on Sunday, January 13.

Rossendale won 45-14 at Kendal and Macclesfield ran out 13-66 winners Northwich while third placed Blackburn lost 28-22 at Wirral.

In the mid-table battle Manchester beat Stockport 28-17 as Penrith moved further away from the bottom with a 21-24 victory at Sandbach and Leek ran out 47-20 win against Andelmians.

On Sunday, January 20, Rossendale are on the road to Sandbach as top versus bottom as Macclesfield host Kendal while Blackburn head to Manchester.

Penrith face Wirral, Leek head to Northwich and Stockport play Anselmians.

Maintaining their lead at the top with a 12-32 win at Morpeth, Percy Park are in control of the Regional 2 North league after the games on January 13.

Northern kept pace with a 13-52 victory at Cockermouth as Durham City stayed top of the chasing pack with a 14-36 win at Consett.

Aspatria moved up to fourth with a 12-26 win against Keswick while Upper Eden beat Middlesbrough 15-12 and Stockton lost 15-24 at home to West Hartlepool.

Aspatria face a tough test at home to Percy Park on January 20 while Northern host Durham City.

Middlesbrough will look to bounce back from at home to Stockton as Consett head to Keswick while Cockermouth welcome West Hartlepool and Upper Eden take on Morpeth.

It was a high scoring game for Regional 2 North West leaders Birkenhead Park as they left Winnington Park with a 43-51 victory on January 13, as Bowden came unstuck at Burnage with a 32-26 defeat.

Third placed Firwood Waterloo managed to close the gap with a close 31-36 win at Vale of Lune and Crewe & Nantwich came back with a 18-24 win over Altrincham Kersal.

In the battle at the bottom Liverpool St Helens lost 27-31 to Kirkby Lonsdale and Douglas (I.O.M) are up to sixth with a 14-41 victory at Whitchurch.

Top take on bottom as Birkenhead Park travel to Liverpool St Helens on January 20 as Bowden head to Kirkby Lonsdale while Firwood Waterloo host Crewe & Nantwich in a third versus fourth game.

Vale of Lune welcome Burnage and Whitchurch face Altrincham Kersal.

In the Cumbria league With Carlisle missing on January 13, St Benedicts head to Windermere looking to close the gap while Whitehaven host Hawcoat Park and Wigton welcome Aspatria 2nd.

Lurking outside the top four Egremont face Millom while Creighton play Keswick 2nd and Workington head to Penrith 2nd.

St Benedicts can close in further on Carlisle on January 20 when they head to Penrith 2nd and Whitehaven host Wigton in a tough third versus fourth while Egremont will look to jump over either team as they head to Windermere.

In a mid-table battle Creighton host Aspatria 2nd while at the bottom Keswick 2nd play Workington.