Cumbria start their competitive season tomorrow at Wigton with a visit from Durham (kick-off 3pm) – a side who put 50 points on them last season.

Coach Dan Bowman said: “It will obviously be tough because the bulk of their players come from the Blaydon and Mowden Park clubs.

"They were really pacey and impressive last season.

“But it’s a different year and we have home advantage, so it might depend on how well they travel."

“Putting a squad together has been tricky with players still involved in club rugby,” he added.

“But we had a good session at Carlisle last week and met up at Wigton for a second workout this week.

“It will be a similar squad to last year, although some of the lads who trialled then and didn’t quite make the team, will get a chance this time.

“We have a couple of the Kendal players injured but their front-row is available, which should help.

“We’ve also been able to bring in some good players who now represent clubs outside the county.”

Joining the squad will be Mark Irving (Fylde, ex-Aspatria), Jonathan Potter (Glasgow, ex-Egremont), Jack Akrigg (Preston, ex-Kirkby Lonsdale) and Mark Houghton (Wharfedale, ex-Kendal).

Bowman will be working alongside James Gough and Gary Hewer on the coaching side, with former Cumbria captain Mark Richardson as team manager.

Cumbria travel to Leicestershire next week and complete their programme at Kendal against Staffordshire on May 19.

Aspatria will know their opponents in the promotion shootout next week after tomorrow’s final games in South Lancashire/Cheshire are known. They will face an away tie at either Glossop or Wirral-based Anselmians.

Going into the last games, Anselmians lead Glossop by two points having won one more game than their rivals, but Glossop have two more bonus points on their record than the Wirral side.

Glossop are at home to Tyldesley, one of the sides relegated from North Lancs/Cumbria last season. Whatever happens, they will finish sixth bottom.

Having gained a hard-fought victory against champions Broughton Park and, thus, remaining unbeaten at home all season, Anselmians travel to Leigh and nothing less than a victory will guarantee a play-off position.

Ironically, their opponents tomorrow could have done them a huge favour last week by beating Glossop, but in a high-scoring game, lost 45-35.

Leigh are comfortably seventh, having won 11 and lost 12 of their games this season.

Carlisle lost their grip on the Cumbria Cup but put up a spirited defence at rain-lashed Keswick before losing the final 18-10 to Kendal.

Ten minutes from the end it was 15-10 and in the balance but former Keswick fly-half, and also an ex-Carlisle player, Glen Weightman kicked a late penalty to clinch the win for Kendal.