It was an explosive start to the 2025/26 Rugby Union season with Cumbrian sides involved in eye catching games from close encounters to complete dominance.

Regional 1 North East

The opening rounds of Regional 1 North East continued to deliver excitement on Saturday, September 6, with big away wins, high-scoring contests, and dominant home displays across the division.

Alnwick laid down a marker with a fine 36–21 victory at Blaydon. The visitors’ power up front and clinical finishing proved too much for the home side, who were unable to contain Alnwick’s momentum in the second half.

At Rudding Lane, Harrogate edged past Middlesbrough 35–26 in a closely fought Yorkshire clash. The hosts combined attacking flair with defensive grit to hold off a spirited Middlesbrough side, who pushed hard until the final whistle.

Penrith enjoyed an excellent afternoon on the road, running in six tries in a convincing 40–20 success at Cleckheaton. The Cumbrians’ pace out wide proved decisive as they pulled clear in the closing stages.

There was no shortage of dominance at Driffield, where the hosts overwhelmed Sandal 41–5. A relentless attacking performance ensured a comfortable win, keeping Driffield among the early pace-setters.

In Cumbria, Kendal were undone by a strong Heath outfit, who claimed a 35–18 victory at Mint Bridge. The visitors controlled territory and possession for long spells, with Kendal unable to find enough answers to turn the tide.

Finally, Ilkley produced the highest score of the day, outgunning York 54–31 in a free-flowing encounter. Both sides traded tries in an entertaining contest, but Ilkley’s sharper finishing saw them pull away decisively in the second half.

Regional 2 North

The opening weekend of Regional 2 North rugby union action produced a string of dramatic contests with local derbies, high-scoring clashes, and hard-fought battles across the division.

Keswick marked their home outing in style with a commanding 25–0 victory over Upper Eden, shutting out their Cumbrian rivals in a performance built on defensive discipline and clinical finishing.

The standout match of the afternoon came at Aspatria, where the home side triumphed in an extraordinary 48–46 thriller against Wigton.

In a contest that swung back and forth, both sides providing plenty of attacking action, but it was Aspatria who held their nerve late on to secure one of the highest-scoring victories of the day.

Elsewhere, Durham City showed their attacking intent with a convincing 43–12 win over Guisborough, running in six tries to underline their credentials as early front-runners in the league.

West Hartlepool also came through a tight contest, edging Percy Park 35–31 in another game that kept supporters on edge until the final whistle.

There was no shortage of points at Consett, but it was visitors Northern who stole the show, running out 64–20 winners with a powerful display that saw them dominate from the second quarter onwards.

Finally, Morpeth made home advantage count as they squeezed past Sunderland 24–21 in a fiercely contested match decided by fine margins.

Cumbria League

The opening weekend of the Cumbria season saw some emphatic performances and tightly contested encounters across the division.

Whitehaven made a statement with a convincing 35-5 victory away at Ambleside, demonstrating their attacking prowess and setting the tone for a strong season ahead.

Meanwhile, Cockermouth also enjoyed a dominant home win, defeating Millom 43-5 in a performance that showcased their attacking flair and defensive solidity.

St. Benedict’s continued their fine form with a 32-19 win over Creighton, pulling away in the second half after a competitive start.

The match between Egremont and Keswick 2nds ended in a 22-22 draw, highlighting the evenly matched nature of the sides in what was an entertaining and closely fought contest.

Penrith 2nds impressed with a 43-26 victory against Kirkby Lonsdale, with strong running and clinical finishing helping them secure a comfortable win.

Hawcoat Park claimed a 25-14 win at Windermere, proving too strong in the latter stages of the match.

Finally, Carlisle delivered a crushing 84-0 victory over Workington, making a statement as one of the division’s early front-runners and underlining their intent for the season.