Rugby chatter Home & Away
As the final countdown approaches it’s getting tight at the bottom with a number of teams hovering just above Anselmians and De La Salle in the relegation zone. However at season end it could all be insignificant with yet another league restructuring. Last season 19 Lancashire clubs resigned from the RFU structure enmass in part citing concerns regards travel and disparity in playing standards. A RFU compromise was found combining these clubs in a Cheshire & Lancashire structure from level 7 to 9. This in turn isolated the Cumbria clubs who now have issue regards not being able to retain players, lost bar revenue and less fixtures.
So what could happen?
At present, the structure in the North West is set to be reviewed by the RFU ahead of the 2019/20 season to find a better way forward for all clubs across the region.
However, one worry for the Cumbrian clubs is the governing body will simply decide to keep things as they are from next year onwards, leaving rugby union in Cumbria facing a potentially bleak future. Or the alternative option [Option Y] there would then be 3 divisions at level 6. The existing N1W and N1E would be complemented by the new division (possibly N1North). The top 3 clubs from the 4 current level 7 divisions would be promoted to the new level 6 with the clubs being geographically distributed among the 3 level 6 divisions to minimise travelling time. This option would effectively dilute level 6, making the gap between the bottom of that level and the top of level 7 less of a jump in class. Level 7 would be weakened as a result.
For Northwich no real change will occur, but if option Y is implemented it would mean Anselmians will continue at level 6 and will remain in the same league as Northwich (N1W) next season.

Did you know 23rd March 1968 France finally achieved the Grand Slam, but they did it the hard way, coming from 9-3 down at the interval to beat Wales 14-9 in the mud at Cardiff. As well as the loss, the Welsh RFU came in for widespread criticism for the state of the pitch, while the crowd hardly did their country proud with widespread booing and whistling during the playing of God Save The Queen. France had won four of the previous nine Five Nations championships without managed a Slam.

Northwich take a bus trip to Winters Park CA11 8RQ the home of Penrith RFU for a 3pm kick-off.

In their last fixture Penrith did not travel back from Warrington with the second away win of the season they were desperately looking for but they did return with the next best thing, a bonus point draw. It was a close run thing with them only losing their lead to a last kick of the game a penalty. In a tense and nervy match, where both sides perhaps had relegation prospects on their minds, Warrington managed to salvage two points with the very last kick of the game. The draw sees them drop to 11th in the league with four ties to play and particularly difficult fixtures against Douglas, Broughton Park and Birkenhead Park.
Penrith's poor away form has been well documented and they traveled determined to get it right. At Warrington, of all places, you have to get off to a decent start and stand up to them physically or you can end up being bullied out of the game. Penrith did not make the most auspicious of starts but they did roll their sleeves up and get stuck in. Penrith looked as if they had just about done enough but were penalised again, this time instead of tapping and going the home side were a little more circumspect and decided to go for the two points and the draw. It was not a difficult kick and it went over to the sound of the final whistle.
The initial reaction, understandably, was one of disappointment but it wasn't a bad return for a side with only one away win out of eleven attempts. On reflection it was three points won, not two lost and was by far the best performance on the road this season, similar effort in the final four league games of the season will see them safe. Such is the closeness of the league that this draw has taken the Cumbrian side into the top half of the table!

Before the earlier match last November anyone looking at the form book would have expected a close possibly low scoring game. However, the match turned out to be a spectator’s delight and a coach’s nightmare. An 11 try fest proved to be the perfect antidote to the autumn internationals. Penrith had a severe case of their away day blues at the start of their game at Northwich, where, after half an hour they found themselves 33-7 down having conceded five tries. The home side played some nice rugby but it is so much easier to go through the phases, run your training ground moves and play "fancy dan" rugby when the opposition are not in you faces. As a fifteen Penrith stood off them and when they finally came to their senses they left themselves with far too much to do. Northwich were allowed to score their tries far too easily and all Penrith had to show for their efforts in the first 30 minutes was one well worked lineout after a penalty kick to the corner.

Northwich 2 host Wirral at Moss Farm. Northwich seconds finally ended a wait for their first win of the calendar year while director of rugby Martin Poste watched on from the side-lines, he took an opportunity to cast an eye over a side that now hopes to finish the campaign on a high.
Blacks’ dominance in the scrum set the tone, and an infringement by the home team gifted to Harry Naylor an opportunity to kick a penalty, Northwich winning 10-34 at LSH.
Poste reflected: “I thought we were terrific.
“The lads promoted from our colts team all played a part, and I saw several players who will make a step up to the first-team sooner rather than later.”

Northwich 3 journey to league leaders, Newcastle (Staffs).

Northwich colts remain fixtureless having received a Bye in round 1 of their cup competition.