Penrith Rugby Club's season could hinge on their performance at Birkenhead Park tomorrow - and the signs aren’t good.

The Winters Park side lost at bottom side De La Salle on Saturday, the Salford side picking up their first win of the season. They only have nine points and six of them came in two games against Penrith.

With nine North One West games to play, Penrith are still not out of the promotion play-off place reckoning, if they can steady the ship and hit some consistent form late in the season.

But by the same token, if they continue to produce poor performances away from home, which have included an 87-point tonking at Manchester and that defeat by the no-hopers from De La Salle, then they will be sucked into a relegation fight. It could go either way.

Birkenhead Park are fourth, genuinely in the mix for a play-off berth, and they have an eight-point advantage over Penrith.

However, a glance over their shoulders will reveal that Penrith are only eight points better off than Burnage who occupy the last relegation place.

Penrith had the ideal opportunity to break their run of poor away performances when they visited rock-bottom side De La Salle but the Cumbrians crashed to a 24-21 defeat, their ninth of the season.

It was even more embarrassing than the 87 points they conceded at Manchester two weeks earlier.

Penrith could have no complaints as De La Salle deserved their win but they do have to take a long, hard look at themselves or the seriously unthinkable - dropping into the Cumbria League - could be very much a possibility.

Penrith have accumulated 14 bonus points, more than any other team in North One West – and it’s a good job they have or they would be in deep relegation trouble, instead of being eight points clear of the danger zone.

Penrith twice had to come from behind in the first half to share the spoils 14-14 at half-time. Jay Rossi and Brad Taylor scored the Penrith tries, both converted by Nathan Wooff.

De La Salle took the lead for the third time in the second half but Taylor’s second try, converted by Wooff, put them level again.

A silly penalty, given away in the last 10 minutes, was then kicked by the home side to win the match.

It won’t have been good news for Penrith to hear that, in their last match, Birkenhead Park won 45-20 at Burnage.

While Penrith were being beaten by the bottom side, leaders Carlisle were able to see off Anselmians, the team immediately above De La Salle and heading for a quick return after last year’s promotion.

It wasn’t perfect but Carlisle produced a far better performance than the previous week as they beat the strugglers 27-12.

Some injury problems after the 10-10 draw at Broughton Park caused a reshuffle with player-coach Matt Shields among those sitting it out but they were still able to field a very capable side.

That’s been one of the key points for Carlisle in this hugely successful season so far - the depth of quality in the squad.

Despite their lowly league position, Anselmians showed they were not there just to make up the numbers and only trailed 7-5 at the break after Max Connon had scored an early try.

Chris Auld, Jack Freshwater and Angus Fulton scored second-half tries to ensure Carlisle got their quota of points, although there would be disappointment that Anselmians were able to score a second try.

Tomorrow, there’s a potential banana skin waiting for Shields and his men at Warrington, 36-28 winners at Stockport last week.

Warrington might only be seventh, some 12 points behind second-placed Blackburn, but they are dangerous opponents on their own turf and any sort of win will be a very good result for the league leaders.

The final games before the top four / bottom four split are being played in the Cumbria League tomorrow when Aspatria v Cockermouth is likely to be the best on offer - with not so much at stake.

Both have already qualified in the top four with Aspatria certain to finish second and Cockermouth delighted to be definitely third.

The two met last week in the League Cup and will also meet in the semi-final of that competition.

In a psychological boost ahead of tomorrow’s league clash, Aspatria won 37-21 at Cockermouth.

Jacques Rowe, Gary Hodgson, Lee Tinnion, Jack Clegg and Grant Bethwaite scored the Aspatria tries with Clegg adding two penalties and three conversions.

Wigton are trying desperately to salvage their season. It would be a major disappointment for the club if they did not finish fourth and they will do that by beating Hawcoat Park at Lowmoor Road.

Waiting to grab fourth if they can are Whitehaven, but they need to beat leaders Keswick at the Playground and hope Wigton slip up.

St. Benedict’s entertain Upper Eden in a battle between the league’s bottom two sides.

Meanwhile, Carlisle Cougars play Broughton Park at home on Sunday (2pm kick-off).

Park are second in the league, one place above the Carlisle side.

The Ladies train Monday and Wednesdays at 7pm at Carlisle Rugby Club - all levels of experience are welcome to go along and try the game.