A re-arranged game after the postponement a fortnight ago – so if you were looking forwarded to the Cumbria Cup game against Penrith, you have a little be longer to wait.

Alnwick have been one of top teams in this League since it was set up in a restructure in 2022, finishing fourth, then in both of the last two seasons fifth.

They are having another excellent season currently sitting in second, after defeating previously second placed Harrogate last week. Whilst Heath are twelve points clear and Ilkley are six points adrift, Alnwick (and Harrogate who visit us in late March) will want maximum points for the rest of the season to get a Home tie in the play-off.

Their three losses have all come away from home (Harrogate; Driffield and Heath), and all ended in them picking up a losing bonus point. Otherwise it has been maximum points except in their wins at Ilkley and York and last weeks low scoring game against Harrogate. Driffield are the only team who have got a try scoring bonus points against them, whilst Ilkley are the only one to have got close enough for a losing bonus point.

The away game, on a very windy afternoon, saw our team fall just short of both a losing and try bonus point, scoring three tries in a 27v19 loss against a strong and well organised team.

This will be a third visit to Kendal for an Alnwick team. They lost 36v24 in a non League game in 1994, but won in the League 10v19 in 2019.

TEAM :

The only change to the squad who played at Sandal last weekend, is Matt Houghton replaces of Reece Tomlinson

Houghton goes to No.8 with Patrick Wolstenholme starting from the bench. Glenn Chesher and Andy Rogers swap places with Rogers warming the bench (if only they would sit down !). John Dervey starts in the second row .

Ben Cakebread gets another start from the bench - hopefully will get on earlier this time.

WEATHER

No chance of frozen pitches this time (+7 overnight and +8 for the game), and (for the moment) the MetOffice seaweed says it could also stay dry for the game.

OTHER GAMES

A repeat of a fortnight ago’s predictions. So did last week’s results change anything ?

An interesting one to start with. The two teams had very different opposition last weekend with Blaydon losing at home to Heath, whilst Driffield won away at Cleckheaton, but Blaydon got a try scoring bonus points whilst Cleckheaton got within nine points of Driffield. Visitors Blaydon are now only a point clear of Driffield, and Driffield have only lost twice at home, and one of those was to Heath. Blaydon have only won away at Penrith (during their injury issues) and Cleckheaton, but have only left an away game once without some points (Heath). Still going for a home win.

Should be a much easier one, with high flying Harrogate, playing a Cleckheaton team without an away win. Despite their last gasp win against us, Harrogate have only dropped one point at home (to Alnwick who beat them to go second last weekend) although only Driffield and Penrith (again in their dip) have left empty handed.

Penrith seemed to be sorting things out with narrow losses to top six Driffield and then Ilkely, but a trip to Heath will be difficult (for anyone !)

A lost to Sandal, and only a narrow win at Penrith, but as we found out before Christmas, Ilkley are strong at home, so should have far too much for Middlesbrough (who visit us next weekend.

Another interesting one with both York and Sandal having won their last two games (sadly both including one against us). For us ideally the game would end in a low scoring draw. It depends which Sandal team turn up, the one that played in the first half last weekend could be a match for anyone, but based on York’s performance at Mint Bridge going for home advantage making the difference, and making the battle at the foot of the table even tighter.

If this was all to happen it would be five home wins – can we make it Six?

SECOND XV :
Are also a Mint Bridge, playing Wigan – the website says 2.00 – the RFU site has both 2.15 and 3.00

After the set back at Fylde before Christmas, another big win last weekend to go third with three games in hand over the two above them, although Fylde are eight points clear.

The Visitors are one place below us with six wins and two draws from eleven.

However last week then were well beaten 62v12 at second placed Southport

Team

Just the one change from last weekend (I was getting worried they had posted last week’s team by mistake) with Mckenzie Cousins coming into the centre in place of Jordan Johnson

WASPS :
Are away at leaders Bishop Auckland, and could do with something out of the game as Sefton (immediately above the Wasps in the table) got a try scoring bonus point against Bishops Auckland last weekend, to open a one point advantage over the Wasps

Despite a good performance against second placed Driffield last weekend, it will a really big ask of the young team away from home, but good experience for more challenges to come.

SENIOR COLTS
Are away at Newcastle (Staffs), the team they narrowly beat on the 3G last weekend (whilst it was 31v15, in the last few minutes I saw Newcastle had two chances to score but didn’t, whilst the Colts took their chance, so it could have been a different result).

The report on the website suggests the team did this without a number of injured or unavailable players. So hopefully some extra are available for the return game

Looked two strong talented teams.