Last updated 13:29, Saturday, 22 March 2008

KESWICK are closing in on a remarkable record in the Cumbria League as they are just four games away from completing a 100 per cent season.

Keswick full-back Andy Wallace in action against Creighton

To get through 24 games and win them all would be a great effort, and the first time it’s been achieved at that level.

Workington were champions last season and clearly best in the competition but they lost a game.

Keswick need five points from their last four matches to be mathematically certain of taking the title, but with such a superior points difference to their rivals they could win it with four.

I get the impression that going the distance, winning all the games, is the target set by the Keswick club now they have got this far.

Earning promotion to the North Lancs Cumbria League would be a deserving reward, especially as the club was prepared to go up last year.

You may recall Keswick lost to Tarleton in the promotion play-off game but their conquerors then had a change of heart – an internal split at the club it appears – and didn’t accept the promotion place.

Keswick offered to take their place. The fixtures had been printed, Tarleton were included and it seemed a sensible arrangement that the Davidson Park club, who had been second in their own League would step in.

Not so. As Keswick hadn’t been good enough to beat Tarleton in the play-off decider, no arrangements were made and the North Lancs Cumbria League has been contested this season with a club having to sit-out each week-end.

Keswick are one particular Cumbrian club who are reaping the benefits of a very sound youth policy. They are getting to the situation now where there’s a nice conveyor belt of talent coming through at regular intervals.

Close links with Keswick School help but the fact that the club has invested in youth rugby and has proved adept at getting the best out of the young players is to their credit and they are gaining the benefits on the field.

Because of Tarleton’s decision not to go up, and the fact that Keswick  weren’t considered good enough to fill their place, everyone expects that only  two teams will be relegated this time round – but don’t hold your  breath.

Keswick, generally regarded as the best team in the Cumbria League, will be looking forward to fresh challenges that the North Lancs Cumbria League will present – and they will get the chance to cross swords with at least four Cumbrian sides.

Kirkby Lonsdale, Workington and Wigton have their own private competition going on for third place, while Upper Eden are just about safe. The fifth team could be St. Benedict’s but they suffered a damaging defeat last week against Oldham. The odds are starting to stack-up against the Mirehouse club who are fighting a desperate battle to avoid the bottom two certain relegation places – although conversely they survived last year despite finishing in a bottom three berth.

Elsewhere across Cumbria the most successful club have been Kendal, almost ready to pop the champagne in celebration of winning the North One title – and like Keswick they are closing in on a remarkable 100 per cent complete record.

With their success on the field it’s good to hear that several of the Kendal players are expressing an interest in making themselves available for Cumbria’s County Shield challenge in May.

But whilst we applaud Kendal’s success in getting back to National League rugby, there are concerns over Penrith’s ability to stay in North One.

They are involved in a desperate battle to avoid the drop with any three from four going down. But Penrith are bottom and although they need to win their last three games, their destiny might not be in their own hands. Results elsewhere could send them down.

If Penrith do go down they will probably go back to North Two East where they should join county rivals Aspatria and Carlisle.

I say should because Carlisle are themselves involved in a relegation battle, a scrap which cost coach Jeremy Tiffen his job and has left Liam Nicholls in charge over the final few matches.

We want to see as many Cumbrian clubs high up the League’s pyramid structure as they can go. Not only is it clearly good for the clubs themselves but also for the wider field of Cumbria county rugby.

The better quality opposition the players test themselves against week to week, will benefit the county team immeasurably.