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Carlisle Win Cumbria League As County’s Rugby Union Sides Head Towards Final Months

By Robert Haile

Carlisle have sealed the Cumbria League as the divisions head towards the final months of the season.

In Regional 1 North West Rossendale and Macclesfield couldn’t be separated on Saturday, February 3, as they drew 26-26.

Third placed Blackburn moved three points off the top two with a 24-19 win over Kendal while Manchester drop to fifth with a 17-7 defeat at Northwich as Wirral moved into fourth with an 18-10 win over Anselmians.

Penrith are up to seventh with a 41-43 win at Leek and bottom side Sandbach squeezed a 18-17 win against Stockport.

On Saturday, February 10, Rossendale head to bottom side Sandbach while Macclesfield host Kendal, Leek travel to Northwich and Stockport welcome Anselmians.

Regional 1 North West Results

Blackburn 24-19 Kendal

Leek 41-43 Penrith

Rossendale 26-26 Macclesfield

Northwich 17-7 Manchester

Wirral 18-10 Anselmians

Sandbach 18-17 Stockport

Regional 1 North West Table

  1. Rossendale – 74
  2. Macclesfield – 74
  3. Blackburn – 71
  4. Wirral – 53
  5. Manchester – 50
  6. Kendal – 44
  7. Penrith – 35
  8. Stockport – 30
  9. Leek – 23
  10. Anselmians – 21
  11. Northwich – 20
  12. Sandbach – 20

In the Regional 2 North leaders Percy Park came away from West Hartlepool with a 33-37 on February 3 as Northern kept pace with a 12-19 win at Upper Eden.

Durham City hold on to third place with a 19-15 win over Stockton as Middlesbrough won 8-23 at Consett while Aspatria lost 27-25 at Morpeth and Keswick took the spoils with a 28-3 win over Cockermouth in a Cumbrian Derby.

All four Cumbrian teams are in action at home on February 10 as Aspatria welcome Percy Park, Keswick face Consett, Upper Eden take on Morpeth and Cockermouth play West Hartlepool.

Regional 2 North Results

Keswick 28-3 Cockermouth

Consett 8-23 Middlesbrough

Durham City 19-15 Stockton

West Hartlepool 33-37 Percy Park

Upper Eden 12-19 Northern

Morpeth 27-25 Aspatria

Regional 2 North Table

  1. Percy Park – 76
  2. Northern – 72
  3. Durham City – 57
  4. Middlesbrough – 57
  5. Aspatria – 43
  6. Consett – 36
  7. Stockton – 34
  8. West Hartlepool – 34
  9. Morpeth – 32
  10. Keswick – 29
  11. Upper Eden – 25
  12. Cockermouth – 0

Leaders Birkenhead Park took another step towards the Regional 2 North West title with a close 24-21 win over Crewe & Nantwich on February 3 as Bowden lost 33-28 at Winnington Park while Firwood Waterloo beat Altrincham Kersal 17-21 to move joint second.

The battle for fifth swung towards Burnage as they beat Douglas (I.O.M) 40-8 and Vale of Lune ran out 67-14 winners against Liverpool St Helens and Kirkby Lonsdale lost 32-13 at Whitchurch.

Three catch up games take place on February 10 as Birkenhead Park head to Liverpool St Helens as Kirkby Lonsdale host Bowden and Whitchurch face Altrincham Kersal.

Regional 2 North West Results

Birkenhead Park 24-21 Crewe & Nantwich

Winnington Park 33-28 Bowden

Whitchurch 32-13 Kirkby Lonsdale

Burnage 40-8 Douglas (I.O.M)

Altrincham Kersal 17-21 Firwood Waterloo

Vale of Lune 67-14 Liverpool St Helens

Regional 2 North West Table

  1. Birkenhead Park – 73
  2. Firwood Waterloo – 65
  3. Bowden – 65
  4. Crewe & Nantwich – 57
  5. Burnage – 44
  6. Vale of Lune – 42
  7. Douglas (I.O.M) – 37
  8. Whitchurch – 34
  9. Winnington Park – 33
  10. Altrincham Kersal – 31
  11. Kirkby Lonsdale – 22
  12. Liverpool St Helens – 21

Carlisle have claimed the Cumbria League title and promotion back into the Regional league after being awarded their game against Workington on February 3 along with Wigton who were also awarded their game against St Benedicts.

Hawcoat Park traveled to Egremont looking to take fifth place off them but were beaten 59-24 while Penrith 2nd lead the lower half of the table with a 13-55 win at Creighton.

Windermere moved off the bottom with a 14-17 loss to Keswick 2nd due to the bonus point and Millom left Aspatria 2nd with a 28-19 defeat.

On February 10 clubs play postponed games with Egremont eventually making the trip to Windermere, Creighton host Aspatria 2nd as Penrith 2nd play St Benedicts and Keswick 2nd host Workington.

Cumbria Results

Creighton 13-55 Penrith 2nd

Carlisle HWO Workington

Aspatria 2nd 28-19 Millom

Windermere 14-17 Keswick 2nd

Wigton HWO St Benedicts

Egremont 59 – 24 Hawcoat Park

Cumbria

  1. Carlisle – 70
  2. Wigton – 57
  3. St Benedicts – 52
  4. Whitehaven – 50
  5. Egremont – 48
  6. Hawcoat Park – 42
  7. Penrith 2nd – 31
  8. Millom – 24
  9. Aspatria 2nd – 21
  10. Keswick 2nd – 19
  11. Creighton – 17
  12. Windermere – 13
  13. Workington – 12