Not long to go for the first competitive rugby action in almost eighteen months, and I am so excited I am planning to walk all the way from home to the Carlisle ground on Saturday.
Due to the long break, and the different effects on squads of the last eighteen months, everyone will be an unknown quality for a few weeks, but on paper this looks one of the tougher test, taking on a team who dropped down from the North Premier at the end of the 2019/20 season, who at the start of that season had a resounding victory over the fledgling Kendal team, as we started re-building after our own relegation at the end of the previous season, when Carlisle had taken our place.
They appear to have had just the one pre-season game a 24v0 lost away at Alnwick the team who ended the season two points above Carlisle to avoid their own relegation.
Two promising warm up games for us, although both at home and against teams from lower levels than Alnwick, but the new recruits showed up well.
Kick off 3.00pm
TEAM : Not officially announced yet, but looks a strong one, with a bench that averaged 20 appearances each in 2019/20
WEATHER : At the moment looks OK cloudy but dry.
DIRECTIONS : take the A6 then the M6 to the second Carlisle junction (43) the take the first turn off at the motorway roundabout, and just follow the road towards the city centre. At the second set of lights, look for the right hand lane, as straight ahead, take you left in the wrong direction.
Carlisle's ground is on the right just after the next set of lights, just beyond Carlisle United’s Brunton Park ground, through a gap between two houses
If you get to the next set of lights and see a church you have come too far. Just go right, then take the next left (immediately behind the church) and then left again, and back the way you came (alternatively straight ahead, then immediate right behind church, then right again (but the first is easier)
Traffic may be busy as Carlisle United are also at home with a 3.00pm kick off against Salford City (which I think are the team who have or had ex-Manchester United players as their backers – but I may be wrong !)
MINT BRIDGE : If you cannot make it to Carlisle the Second XV open their season with a game against Birkenhead Park, and I am sure would welcome your support.