rugby union By John Walsh

Last updated 14:56, Friday, 28 March 2008

Netherhall versus Keswick is the big game in the west of the county tomorrow – a clash between the top two sides in the Cumbria League.

A win for unbeaten Keswick would give them the League title while a Netherhall victory would maintain their outside interest in the championship but at least confirm them as runners-up.

Keswick dropped their first point of the season last Saturday in a 6-6 home draw with Millom. That draw followed 20 successive victories.

Netherhall are five points behind – having lost two games so far – with a match in hand but know that Keswick are still firm favourites to lift the crown, whatever happens tomorrow.

Netherhall were notching-up their ninth successive League win last week when they beat Creighton 14-10 but that was the first time in that sequence in which they had conceded a try.

Tomorrow’s game has all the ingredients for a thrilling confrontation – two young sides who like to throw the ball around, and who both possess mobile, all-action forwards.

There’s a pretty important game tomorrow at Salford for St. Benedict’s who are battling to stay in the North Lancs Cumbria League.

The Whitehaven side and De La Salle are in the two relegation positions but still have Oldham and Didsbury Toc H in their sights. It’s a pretty tough place to go to at the best of times, especially as De La Salle became the first team to take a point out of leaders and champions Blackburn in their last home game.

St. Benedict’s were well beaten last week, but that was by Penrith who are two Leagues higher, and was in the quarter final of the Story Cumbria Cup.

Workington also missed-out on Cup glory last week but they put up a sterling performance against holders Kendal in their clash at the Ellis Sports Ground.

The Zebras will want to show similar form tomorrow when they host Fleetwood in North Lancs Cumbria as they are in a three-way battle with Kirkby Lonsdale and Wigton to finish third in the table.

The other two sides meet at Lowmoor Road and Wigton know that to retain the level they achieved last season (third place) they will need to beat Kirkby Lonsdale at home.

In North Two East Aspatria have slipped out of promotion contention but they have a Story Cumbria Cup semi-final coming-up next week at Kirkby Lonsdale and want to keep the momentum going.

Morpeth away tomorrow is a good test for the Black Reds and with Cup places up for grabs, nothing less than a totally committed performance will be accepted.

Other games in the Cumbria League are: BAE Barrow v Moresby; Cockermouth v Millom; Gosforth Greengarth v Creighton; Whitehaven v Egremont; Wigton Wanderers v Workington Steelers.