Penrith Rugby Club can improve their North One West survival chances tomorrow with a big win over doomed Anselmians.

The Ellesmere Port side, promoted last year, have struggled at the higher level and will be relegated alongside De La Salle in a few weeks' time.

Penrith are currently only three points clear of the last relegation place as six or seven clubs are fighting desperately to avoid the drop.

Anselmians at home is a good chance (on paper at least) of collecting maximum points in that bid to fight clear of relegation.

The other two games at Winters Park are against second in the table Blackburn, and Northwich who are fourth and have completed a league double over leaders Carlisle.

Penrith’s away form has been pretty abysmal and still to visit on their travels are three sides also involved in battles to avoid relegation – Warrington (currently third bottom); Burnage (one point and one place better off than Warrington) and Stockport (two points and two places better off than Penrith).

It’s all pretty congested down there as Stockport are seventh on 53 points and Warrington are 12 on 48.

Between them are Manchester, Penrith, Firwood Waterloo and Burnage.

Manchester v Burnage is the key game tomorrow while Warrington will certainly be looking to equal Penrith’s result as they visit the other relegated side, De La Salle.

If it’s a crucial game for Penrith at Winters Park, there’s an important one for leaders Carlisle at Warwick Road.

They host a Blackburn side who have emerged over the last few weeks as their nearest pursuers, but still some 11 points behind.

With six games left, including tomorrow’s clash, the mathematicians will be working out soon how many points the city side need to wrap up the league title and, with it, promotion.

In time honoured tradition, though, it’s still just one game at a time and as many points as possible from the clash with Blackburn. A home win can only extend that lead at the top and send the maths men scurrying for their pencils!

But Carlisle are mindful of the fact that they have men out of action, recovering from head knocks and the restrictions that are imposed on them. They have regularly picked up injuries during the season and it’s testament to their strength in depth that they have stayed top throughout the campaign – and well clear into the bargain.

In the Cumbria League, phase two will reach the halfway stage after tomorrow’s games in which leaders Keswick entertain Aspatria who are second while Wigton (fourth) host Cockermouth (third).

Keswick are just about assured of the title and promotion and victory over the Black Reds, their nearest rivals, would be a fitting win to wrap up both. They are 15 points clear and have been beaten only once – by St. Benedict’s who finished in the bottom four of the original league.

Wigton are out to make a point or two in this second phase having largely under-achieved in the League proper. It should make for an interesting contest at Lowmoor Road.

In Cumbria League Two tomorrow, Creighton host Aspatria Eagles; Silloth visit Furness and Wigton Wanderers travel to Millom.