Carlisle Rugby Club might have been brought back to earth with their first defeat of the season but, after three games, they still lead the North One West table.

More than 80 points had been garnered in the opening two victories over De La Salle and Penrith but Douglas provided a different challenge on the Isle of Man.

In the end, Carlisle just couldn’t quite do enough to eke out a third straight win as Douglas edged home 28-24.

Matt Shields and his men still flew home with two points for their efforts but were reflecting on what might have been if they had done more with the possession they had.

Douglas, on the other hand, took all the opportunities they had and were always just tantalisingly ahead on the scoreboard.

Also of some concern, was the fact the defence was not as solid as it had been in the first two games. And, no doubt, Shields and his assistant will have been working on that at this week’s training sessions.

They had turned round at half-time 21-7 in arrears but at one point Grant Connon’s try, converted by brother Max, had put Carlisle level.

Henry Wainwright and Harrison Reay both crossed for unconverted tries after the change-around to suggest that Carlisle would come through and take the game.

But a fourth converted try for the hosts provided a late set-back and James Brocket’s try, converted by Connon wasn’t enough to snatch victory.

Tomorrow, they are back at Warwick Road to take on Broughton Park who were beaten 24-10 at home by Stockport on Saturday.

Previously they had opened with an 18-13 home win over Burnage before going down 29-14 at Blackburn.

They are currently in the final relegation place with four points from the three opening games.

If Carlisle were somewhat crestfallen after their first defeat, the opposite was true at Penrith where a 48-26 win over Manchester got them off the mark for the season.

It was an appropriate time to record the first win as it coincided with the official opening of the new artificial grass pitch – delayed by red tape for a fortnight.

Clearly the free-running Penrith backs are going to feel comfortable on the new surface as they helped themselves to seven tries on first look. Four of them came in the first half an hour to put them in control.

However, the home performance was far from mistake free and the availability problems are still there as head coach David Preston had to play the full 80 minutes.

After the initial surge, they then rather lost their way either side of half-time before then killing the game off reasonably easily.

The seven Penrith tries came from Brad Taylor (3), Josh Dowson, Jay Rossi (2) and George Graham.

Preston will know from his 80 minutes on the pitch exactly where work is required in training to tidy up his side’s game. There is plenty to put right but the win will make it so much easier for him.

The win lifted the Winters Park to fifth in the table, some six points behind Carlisle but they face a test tomorrow when they travel to Firwood Waterloo who are leading a clutch of three clubs just a point behind the leaders.

Cumbria League One sides are back in action, shaping up for their second game of the new campaign.

Two games – both with derby connotations – stand-out and are sure to attract decent crowds especially if the gales and rain have disappeared.

At Lowmoor Road, Wigton host old rivals Aspatria while, at Davidson Park, early leaders Keswick host Cockermouth, who shocked Aspatria in the first game of the season.

Wigton topped 50 points in their opening-day win at Hawcoat Park (53-24) but the Black Reds were beaten 20-17 at Cockermouth.

Keswick lead the way by virtue of the best scoring differential, 48-15 at home to Whitehaven.

Upper Eden won the old Cumbia League last season, just ahead of Whitehaven and they meet tomorrow at the Playground.

Last week they met in the Cumbria League Cup preliminary round and last year’s winners Whitehaven beat the runners-up Upper Eden 14-12. It should be just as tight tomorrow.

In the other game, St Benedict’s will expect to get their season up and running when they host Hawcoat Park.