rugby union By John Walsh

Last updated 19:36, Thursday, 03 April 2008

PENRITH and Aspatria hope to set up a showdown in the final of the Story Cumbria Cup tomorrow.

They are both on the road in their semi-final clashes and will have differing prospects of making the final on April 26.

Penrith, bottom of North One, travel to champions Kendal who haven’t lost a League game all season.

But the north Cumbrians can take heart from the fact that they were as close as anybody to beating Kendal when they met at Mint Bridge in a North One name on March 8.

Kendal won with a late try and since then have clinched the League title while Penrith are still fighting desperately to stay in the Division.

Penrith will also have noted that Kendal made heavy weather of beating Workington 36-29 in the quarter final, winning by scoring a converted try from the last play of the game.

Kendal fielded five fringe players on that occasion but have named a virtual full-strength side for the resumption of hostilities.

Aspatria will start favourites to reach the final as they travel to Kirkby Lonsdale who are a League below them in the Divisional pyramid structure.

But the Black Reds will be mindful of any slip-ups and keen to avoid any giant-killing by the Undersley Park side.

Penrith and Aspatria had mixed results in the League on Saturday, which was probably reflected in their respective League standings.

Penrith’s battle to stay in North One next season is still on after a vital 31-13 home win over Darlington.

It was a must win game for the Cumbrians, who are bottom of three teams all on ten points with Darlington on 12. Three teams go down and all of them have two games to play. Penrith went into the game knowing that defeat would confirm they were heading for North Two East and both teams faced atrocious conditions – a strong wind and heavy rain and also extremely heavy underfoot. Playing against the wind in the first-half Penrith established a 14-3 lead by the interval with tries from James Lund and Rob Dawson, both converted by Steven Wood. When Darlington responded after the break with an unconverted try it was game on. Then great work by player-coach Paul Newton to dispossess a Darlington player sent Toby Slack in for an unconverted try. Another Darlington try cut the gap to six points again but as the game drew to a close half backs Newton and Wood pinned the visitors back with good use of the elements. In stoppage time Newton sliced through the lineout and in at the corner and then Wood put Joe Nattrass away for a try to confirm the victory. Under the circumstances – pressure and conditions – it was a superb performance, especially the first half into the wind. It keeps the survival dream alive but they still must win the final two games while hoping results go their way. They did on Saturday as both Altrincham Kersal and Liverpool St Helens lost – but that needs to happen twice more – and also for Darlington to keep slipping up. It’s still a big ask!

Aspatria meanwhile lost 17-12 at Morpeth in North Two East. Joint coach Mike Scott thought the Cumbrians were unlucky to finish on the wrong end of the scoreline.

“In dreadful, wet conditions we played outstandingly well in the first-half. It was as good as we’ve played for a while, but the only criticism would have to be we didn’t get the points to go with out territory and possession which has been a factor recently,” said Scott.

Morpeth had actually taken a 7-0 lead inside the first minute when the forwards barged over for a try after Aspatria had conceded an early penalty. But Aspatria then dominated and Scott kicked three penalties at ten-minute intervals to establish a 9-7 lead. They bombed a couple of try-scoring opportunities, however, when players ignored overlap situations to try and go themselves. It was a different game in the second-half when Morpeth went ahead with a penalty but on a rare visit top the Morpeth 22 Scott kicked Aspatria back in front with his fourth penalty. Aspatria defended really well until seven minutes from time when they gave away the all-important winning try.

Wigton are in League action tomorrow in North Lancs Cumbria when they play a re-arranged game at Upper Eden.

If they win their game in hand they will move ahead of Kirkby Lonsdale and Workington into third place.

Wigton had lost to Kirkby Lonsdale on two occasions, in the League and the County Cup, so they were delighted to win the return North Lancs Cumbria game at Lowmoor Road 16-7 on Saturday.

Coach Malcolm Brown said: “All three games have been very close but the fact that we had to make six changes from the side which lost there in the Cup, and we came through to win, emphasises the strength in the squad at this stage of the season.”

Wigton had the wind and rain behind them in the first-half and there was just a little concern at half-time that they only led 6-0 at the break with two Paul Branthwaite penalties. Even against the wind in the second-half Wigton had the better of things and it was against the run of play when Kirkby Lonsdale broke out to score a converted try and lead 7-6. Midway through the half Wigton regained the lead when centre Stuart Dixon broke the line and raced 40 metres for a very good try which Branthwaite converted. Wigton continued to have the better of things and a Branthwaite penalty gave them an extra cushion which they held onto comfortably.

Carlisle, who don’t play tomorrow, are still involved in a battle for North Two East survival.

They had a splendid 11-10 win in Halifax against Old Crossleyans, a result which drags them into the survival battle as well.

Rookie stand-off half Glen Weightman was the toast of Carlisle after landing a winning drop goal. His 35-yard effort 15 minutes from time, into a howling wind and strong rain, edged Carlisle to the vital win.

Coach Liam Nicholls said: “Glen is a confidence player and he carried forward his good performance last week into this game. He didn’t lose his composure after missing two early long-range kicks and in the end won us the game.”

“But from a coaching point of view I thought we deserved it. There was a positive attitude in the dressing room beforehand and the guys carried it out on the field.”

Weightman kicked an early penalty and Joe Graham scored an unconverted try for the city side.

Congratulations to Keswick who wrapped-up the Cumbria League title with a 19-13 win at Netherhall.

John Hine and Mark Ireland scored the Keswick tries while Ireland landed three penalties.

Creighton lost 17-11 at Gosforth Greengarth after leading 8-0 at the break with a Dan Greenslade penalty and Matt Rogers try. Greenslade kicked another penalty but they couldn’t get through a solid home defence in the second-half.

In the clash of the second teams Wigton Wanderers beat Workington Steelers 24-7. Aspatria Eagles host Workington Steelers tomorrow in a re-arranged League game.