Cents big kick-off
Last updated 19:41, Thursday, 01 May 2008
THE Cents open their league season on Saturday with a home game against Leeds Akkies.
Due to the earlier start to the season than had been expected, the Gillford Park ground is still in use for football games so this match will be played at Carlisle RUFC on Warwick Road.
To avoid problems with parking due to United’s last league home fixture, the game will kick-off at the unaccustomed time of 1pm.
The next home game (v Durham on May 10) will revert to the normal Gillford Park venue with a 2.30pm kick-off.
Carlisle are boosted for the Leeds Akkies game by the signing of two players with plenty of semi-pro experience between them.
Tom Armstrong returns to the club after a two-season spell with Workington Town and Adam Pate, who played for Barrow Raiders on no less than 48 occasions until returning to rugby union in 2005, throws his own hat into the ring.
All of the 2007 squad are also available for selection
Little is known about the form of this current Leeds side as due to re-arrangement of the league structure, Carlisle haven’t played them since 2003.
In fact Leeds will not want to remember their last visit to Carlisle as they were thrashed by sixty points in the end of season National Cup competition. But the home side are expecting a much tougher test on Saturday.
