rugby union By John Walsh

Last updated 11:04, Friday, 26 September 2008

Still looking for their first league success of the season, Carlisle make some changes for the home game with Ilkley.

The city side lost 25-17 at Aspatria last week but coach Richard Metcalf was heartened by the effort in the Bower Park derby game.

However, he is still striving to find the right blend of youth and experience to get the first league points on the board.

Martin Grealish resumes at lock after missing out last week with a virus.

He replaces Gareth Wylie, a try scorer at Aspatria, who will be out for some time after dislocating a shoulder. Aiden Day is his partner at lock and otherwise the pack remains unchanged.

The half back pairing will be one that finished the match at Aspatria. Ben Blain retains the scrum half slot after impressing when he moved in from the wing last week.

The other piston in the engine room is George Graham who moved to outside from scrum half to let Blain in last week.

Young Chris Harris who has impressed in his two outings so far, deservedly keeps his place in the centre, and is partnered by the recalled Barry Earl.

James Clark is on the right wing and Ollie Barker plays on the left flank. Liam Nicholls keeps the bench warm as a back replacement with Harry Marshall and Scott Rattray keeping him company as cover for the pack.

Aspatria, who were collecting their first points in that win over Aspatria, travel to Billingham tomorrow to play a side who have also beaten Carlisle.

Coach Mike Scott was pleased to get the first points on the board against Carlisle but hadn’t been happy with the way the Black Reds went off the boil in the closing stages.

Wylie, later injured, scored the opening try for Carlisle which Glen Weightman converted, and he also added a penalty. But Aspatria led 18-10 at the break with tries from Andrew Miller and Heini Jonker, with Scott adding a conversion and two penalties.

It was one converted try apiece in the second-half with the outstanding Gary Hodgson crossing for Aspatria and young Chris Harris going in for Carlisle.

For their trip to Billingham Aspatria will be without skipper Graeme Andrews who is at a wedding o Ian McDowell will move to prop and the experienced Derek Benson starts at hooker.

Lee Askew is on holiday and there’s an injury doubt over Lee Tinnion (calf) so Jack Clegg is added to the squad. Penrith went down to a narrow 24-23 defeat in Halifax against Old Crossleyans. They weren’t helped by yellow cards in the second-half for new prop Ben Lanighan and centre Martin Armstrong.

The Cumbrians were 12-8 down at half time after opening their account with a Steve Wood penalty. Their try came after good work by Gavin Young which created an opening for Mike Raine to score in the corner.

The second half saw a well-worked try by David Preston following a move off the back of the scrum and a try for Craig Atkinson created by Armstrong Penrith actually led in the second half but allowed their lead to slip and at 24-20 opted for a penalty which Wood kicked to pull them back to within a point.

Tomorrow they host Durham City and will be looking to re-create the form which gave them their first win at Winters Park two weeks ago.

In the North Lancs Cumbria League Wigton travel to Aldwinians seeking a second successive away win. Sandwiched in between, however, was Saturday’s 22-8 home defeat by Tyldesley.

However, there were excuses for the Greens as they had to play from the 17th minute with 14 men after David Thompson was sent-off.

They had also lost influential county forward Robert Marrs four minutes earlier, carried off with an ankle injury and he is likely to be out of action for three weeks.

Coach Malcolm Brown said: “We were playing down the slope with the breeze but were obviously handicapped by the red card, while Tyldesley were a very efficient side and 14-3 ahead at the break looked set for a good win.

“The fact that we only lost the second half 8-5, playing up the slope and with 14 men was one of the pluses to come out of the game.”

Missing Thompson and Marrs, Wigton will have Shaun Clorley and Mark Grainger back in the pack. Greg Tickle, a young winger who suffered a serious ankle injury last season, comes into the squad after a stand-out display for the Wanderers and Stuart Dixon is also included because of unavailabilities in the backs.

John Story scored a debut try against Tyldesley and Andrew Logue kicked a penalty.

Keswick enjoyed their first win as a North Lancs Cumbria League side when they beat Burnley 23-19 in a cracking contest at Davidson Park.

With the lead changing hands eight times throughout the game it was one that proved enjoyable and exciting, both for the players and the spectators.

John Hine was a key player for the Lakes side with five penalties and a drop goal while Bruce Rigby scored an unconverted try.

Tomorrow Keswick are on the road to play Fleetwood.

In the Cumbria League Creighton had a good contest with Aspatria Eagles before emerging 34-15 winners at Sycamore Lane. Dan Greenslade scored 19 of the points for Creighton, including two tries. The other touchdowns came from Tom Reed, Dean Lambert and Simon Turner.

Tomorrow Creighton host Moresby and the Eagles travel to Cockermouth.

Wigton Wanderers conceded 67 points last season at Millom so going down 44-3 was an improvement. Johnny Scott kicked a penalty for Wigton who have David Warwick in for tomorrow’s home game with St. Benedict’s.

Carlisle Crusaders expect a hard challenge when they entertain Tynedale in the Candy League.

They expect to finalise their team nearer the time, although they anticipate fielding a strong XV to play in what is expected to be one of their hardest clashes of the campaign.

Carlisle Colts are at home too. They entertain Northern in a Colts League fixture, one that has a tendency to produce some exciting rugby.

Junior and youth rugby (under sevens right through to under 16s) is now well under way at Warwick Road and any families wanting to introduce their children to the game are welcome at the club on Sunday mornings from 10am.

Carlisle have been notified this week that they have been awarded the RFU Mini & Youth Seal of Approval to add to their general RFU accreditation.