Starting with a warning about traffic issues : Probably will not affect many of our own supporters (except me !), but will have an major impact on our visitors (so included in case their travelling supporters are checking our website).

For a second weekend the M6 will be closed between Penrith and Shap, with Southbound motorway traffic diverted via the A66, Brough and Tebay, due to the installation of a new rail bridge across the motorway at Clifton (the decaying old one was being demolished last weekend). So anyone travelling from North of Penrith; the Appleby area; or through Kirkby Stephen should allow plenty of extra time for their journey (Northbound traffic is on the A6 via Shap itself; Clifton and Eamont Bridge (part of the old route before the M6 opened).

Hopefully our visitors will have a good journey from the North East, despite the added traffic complication, whichever way they travel.

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 third, the second Promotion Play-off position, just a point behind Harrogate. Whilst Heath are eleven points clear and Ilkley and Blaydon seven 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. 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 : To be confirmed but Leo Mercer and Barney Coxon are likely to be missing for some time.

WEATHER : Sunny but could be cold – hopefully the pitch will have thawed out for kick off.

OTHER GAMES

An interesting one to start with. Visitors Blaydon are five points clear of hosts Driffield, but 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, they have only dropped one point at home (to third place Alnwick) but only Driffield and Penrith (again in their dip) have left empty handed.

Penrith seemed to be sorting things out before Christmas with only a narrow loss to Driffield, and more players will have had three weeks to recover from injury but a trip to Heath will be difficult (for anyone !)

Whilst they finished the year with an unexpected loss at Sandal, as we found out before Christmas Ilkley are strong at home, so should have too much for Middlesbrough.

Another interesting one with both York and Sandal getting maximum points before the Christmas break. For us ideally the game would end in a low scoring draw, but based on their performance against us going for home advantage making the difference for York.

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

SECOND XV :
Looks as if they are without a game this weekend, as one against Kirkby Lonsdale is postponed

WASPS :
Are away at seventh placed Liverpool St Helens on Sunday

LSH have won four of their eight games with wins coming against Birkenhead Park; Chester Divas (Away); Halifax and Sefton (away), but more impressively in their last home game before Christmas held leaders Bishop Auckland to a 7v13 win

So another tough game (aren’t they all in this League ?)

Looks wet but warmer on Sunday.

SENIOR COLTS
Look as if they have a weekend off