Cumbria travel in good heart when they continue their County Championship programme at Newark tomorrow.

Cock-a-hoop after a 30-21 win at Basingstoke against North Midlands, the Cumbrians now have Notts, Lincs and Derby in their sights.

NLD lost their opening game 19-12 away to Oxfordshire who play Cumbria at Aspatria next Saturday.

Cumbria, who are able to put out their strongest squad for several years, came out strongly in the final quarter after they had trailed.

It had always been a tight contest, all square 6-6 at the break, and with North Midlands leading 14-13 after an hour. Two Mark Ireland penalties had kept Cumbria on terms at the break after twice falling behind.

North Midlands took the lead in the first minute of the second half with a third penalty for a high tackle and then it was the Cumbrians who came back to score the first try of the game by Matthew Atkinson, converted by Ireland.

The hosts responded with an unconverted try in the corner to give them a point advantage. Cumbria’s Ben Walker scored the try, converted by Ireland, to lead 20-14 before a converted try put the hosts narrowly in front with 10 minutes left.

In a dramatic finish, Ireland kicked a penalty to give Cumbria a two-point lead and Walker sent Kirk Chettleburgh racing clear for the final try, converted by Ireland.

Cumbria hope to be on similar lines with team selection this weekend.

That side is likely to include: Jay Rossi (Penrith), Brad Taylor (Penrith), Tom Graham (Carlisle), Adam Brough (Cockermouth), Matthew Atkinson (Aspatria), Henry Wainwright (Carlisle), Jamie McKenzie (Keswick) and Ryan Lee (Penrith).