By Robert Haile

The Cumbria League comes to an end as the last games are played but the Regional League sides head into their penultimate games.

In Regional 1 North West the fight for the title looks like it will go down to the final round after the sides returned to action on Saturday, March 16.

Leaders Macclesfield held onto their narrow lead with a 75-5 win over Anselmians while Rossendale were 7-68 victors over Northwich.

Third placed Blackburn squeezed at 24-26 win at Stockport as Wirral ran out 24-37 winners at Sandbach and Manchester were 20-15 winners at Leek.

In the last Cumbrian derby of the season Penrith were 27-7 winners at home to Kendal, the win moved them two points behind their rivals.

In the penultimate game of the league season on Saturday, March 23, Macclesfield could lift the league title with a win at Kendal if Rossendale lose at home to Sandbach.

Blackburn have already sealed a third placed finish as they host fifth placed Manchester as Wirral welcome Penrith while Anselmians face Stockport and Leek take on Northwich.

In the Regional 2 North champions Percy Park were beaten 32-26 at Middlesbrough as Northern closed the gap to them with a 31-26 win against West Hartlepool.

Aspatria beat Durham City 23-18 to keep the chance of a top five finish while Keswick were narrowly beaten by Morpeth 30-34 as Upper Eden were 22-10 winners at home to Stockton and Cockermouth lost 0-19 to Consett.

The Cumbrian teams are on the road for the last time on March 16 as Aspatria head to Percy Park while Keswick travel to Consett as Cockermouth make the trip to West Hartlepool and Upper Eden go to Morpeth.

Stockton face Middlesbrough and Northern need a win away at Durham City and hope Percy Park lose to take it to the final game of the season.

In Regional 2 North West Birkenhead Park left it late to beat Kirkby Lonsdale 29-30 on March 16 and with Bowden losing 15-14 at Firwood Waterloo they sealed promotion and the title with games to spare.

In fourth place Crewe & Nantwich won 9-22 against Douglas (I.O.M) to close the gap to five points setting up an interesting run in.

At the bottom Liverpool St Helens were beaten 17-22 by Burnage as Altrincham Kersal beat Vale of Lune 17-36 and Whitchurch were 33-5 winners over Winnington Park.

In the leagues penultimate game on March 23 Liverpool St Helens host Birkenhead Park while Kirkby Lonsdale head to Bowden and Winnington Park welcome Douglas (I.O.M) as the three side battle it out at the bottom.

Altrincham Kersal face Whitchurch and Burnage welcome Vale of Lune in the mid-table battle as Crewe & Nantwich host Firwood Waterloo as they fight it out in the top four.

The Cumbria League came to a conclusion on March 16.

At the top Egremont held onto third place with a 39-14 win over Keswick 2nd as Whitehaven drop to fifth after a 26-7 defeat at Hawcoat Park and St Benedicts move into forth with a 15-5 win over Windermere.

There were two awarded games as Aspatria 2nd gave Penrith 2nd the match and Workington did the same at Wigton.