One team scored 50 points and another lost by conceding that amount in a mixed start for Cumbrian clubs in North One West.

Carlisle claimed a 50-19 win at De La Salle in their opening league game.

Meanwhile, back in Cumbria, neighbours Penrith suffered a 50-36 home defeat, compounded by the fact they were unable to play on their new artificial pitch.

So contrasting fortunes on opening day, all of which makes for an interesting confrontation at Warwick Road tomorrow when the pair square-up.

Carlisle’s new player-coach Matt Shields is setting high standards and he said there is still some work to do on the training ground.

But this could have been a huge banana skin and, generally, Carlisle will have been pleased to come away from Salford with maximum points.

Although De La Salle scored the first try, it was 22-5 to Carlisle by half-time as they scored four tries through Chris Auld, Shaw Lorimer-Bell, coach Shields and Gregory Baines.

James Telford took over kicking duties in the second half and landed four conversions as Carlisle scored four more tries through Dan Holmes, Auld, Max Connon and skipper Henry Wainwright.

A combination of paperwork, bureaucracy, insurance and the lack of certification from the RFU meant Penrith’s opening home game had to be played on the second-team pitch instead of the new artificial surface.

Against a big, strong and mobile Stockport side, Penrith were caught cold in the first quarter and weren’t in the contest.

After an abysmal start, they showed great spirit to remain in the game but they need to quickly up their tempo at the start of match or they are going to create problems for themselves.

The half-time score of 29-14 was a fair reflection so their response to shade the second half 22-21 was a welcome ray of light for Penrith and his team.

Jamie McNaughton and Ed Swale had scored the first-half tries, both converted by Matt Allinson while McNaughton, Jay Rossi, Olly May and Josh Dowson crossed in the second period.

There’s a bumper crowd expected for the derby clash.

Meanwhile, the new Cumbria League is ready for the off after having to wait an extra week, and by now, the competing teams seem more comfortable with what’s on offer.

Promotion to North One West is the prize on offer for the champions.

Aspatria, after losing out in the play-offs last season, will start favourites to win the league but certainly their main North Lancs Cumbria rivals last season – Keswick and Wigton – will have something to say about that.

Cockermouth have improved leaps and bounds under coach Chris Wright and have a tidy squad put together, largely based on youth and they get first crack at the Black Reds at Strawberry How.

They put up a good effort against Wigton in the Cumbria Cup last season but know that was a one-off against one of the big boys, and now they will have to be consistent and do it week in, week out.

Richard Metcalf has done a splendid job, too, as coach at Keswick as they won the Cumbria League two years ago and actually led North Lancs Cumbria for a few weeks last season.

That experience will have done them good and they shouldn’t be far away again as they start with a home game against Whitehaven, who were runners-up to Upper Eden in the Cumbria League last season.

Wigton, under new coach Andy Brown, will expect to be challenging for honours but have an awkward trip to Hawcoat Park.

In some ways, the most interesting game is at Kirkby Stephen where Cumbria League champions Upper Eden entertain St Benedict’s.

Cumbria League Two did get under way last week with five fixtures taking place.