CUMBERLAND start their County Championship Shield programme at Penrith on Saturday against Staffordshire.
 
The Cumbrian squad is packed with Penrith players who helped their club to a highest-ever League position and another win in the County Cup final.
 
No less than eleven Penrith players are included in the squad of 24 selected for the game at Winters Park.
 
They face a Staffordshire team who lost 28-20 in their opening County Shield game last week at home to Notts, Lincs and Derby.
 
It was a disappointing conclusion for Staffordshire as they had led 13-0 at half-time and produced some excellent flowing rugby, prepared to run the ball from all parts of the pitch.
 
Cumbria team manager Mark Richardson said: “It’s a great incentive for us playing at home to start off with a win which would set-up next week’s game at Mansfield as the pool decider.
 
“We are generally happy with the squad of players we have selected and in the main it is a very young squad with some very promising players among them.
 
“Dan Bowman is taking the forwards while Ian Voortman has agreed to take the backs. Although he won’t be able to b there on Saturday as he has a game with Kendal.”
 
Bowman, the Workington coach, will be leading the side from the back row and the other forwards selected are: Mike Raine, Ryan Johnson, Rob Dawson, David Preston, James Thornton, Glen Carr (all Penrith); Graeme Andrews (Aspatria), David Todhunter, Ben Lanigan, Andrew Bowe (Workington);  Rob Quarry (Upper Eden) and Andreas Vintner (Furness).
 
The backs are: Gavin Cartmel, Paul Newton, Mike Hawley, Joe Nattrass, James Ellar, Sandy Kerridge (all Penrith); Nick Bibby (Furness), Jamie McKenzie (Keswick), David Barton (Kirkby Lonsdale) and Martin Armstrong (Workington).
 
An innovation this season is the trial of rolling substitutions for the first time, with each team being allowed a total of 12 player interchanges during the game.
 
County Championship Shield
May 1: Pool 1 - East Midlands 15 Oxfordshire 54, Leicestershire 43 Essex 19; Pool 2 - Staffordshire 20 Notts, Lincs & Derby 28; Pool 3 - Dorset & Wilts 31 Buckinghamshire 6, Berkshire 28 Sussex 20.

May 8: Pool 1 - Leicestershire v Oxfordshire (at Market Harborough RFC, 3pm), Essex v East Midlands (at Barking RFC, 3pm); Pool 2 - Cumbria v Staffordshire (at Penrith RFC, 3pm); Pool 3 - Dorset & Wilts v Berkshire (at Swanage & Wareham RFC, 3pm), Buckinghamshire v Sussex (at Aylesbury RFC, 3pm).
 
Carlisle have gained consolation after losing the Cumbria Cup final to Penrith by lifting the County Colts Cup. They beat Wigton 15-9 in the Colts final at Creighton.
 
It was an excellent contest between two evenly matched sides with Carlisle just about deserving their victory which came as a result of a converted try seven minutes from the end.
 
The well-drilled Carlisle forwards produced an effective catch and drive and half-back James Rocke was there to grab his second try of the game. Steve Benson converted.
 
Rocke had moved from fly-half to scrum-half during the game with Martin Minnett outstanding in the centre and then at fly-half.
 
After a very even first 20 minutes Carlisle had taken the lead, also from a catch and drive, finished off by Rocke but the try wasn’t converted.
 
Stand-off Alistair Ledingham was outstanding for Wigton, producing some excellent tactical kicking and he also put over two penalties to give the Greens a 6-5 advantage.
 
Before half-time Benson edged Carlisle in front with a successful penalty.
 
Wigton had a really good 15 minutes after half-time but their only reward was a third Ledingham penalty to sneak back in front.
 
But it was Carlisle who finished the stronger and Rocke completed his try double to win the game.
 
Skipper Tom Ritchie, the Carlisle number eight, received the trophy from Cumbria’s RFU representative Roger Hackney.
 
The next final on offer will be the Cumbria Plate showdown between Millom and Whitehaven on Wednesday, May 12 to be played at St. Benedict’s (6-45pm).

Interestingly, in view of previous postponements in the competition, Millom and Whitehaven have been advised that in the event of any default, then the Plate will be awarded to the non - defaulting side, with no alternative arrangements being made for another date.

---

Bookmark with: what are these?