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RFU Youth seal of approval

Our RFU Seal of Approval for youth and junior rugby has recently been upgraded and we are now working towards accreditation for the Whole Club Seal of Approval.

However, there is some work still to be done to reach the required approval standard, although we are confident this recognition can be achieved sooner, rather than later.

Thanks to all those who have helped us achieve what we have so far.

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Wear your poppy with pride

This is the time of year when our minds are focused on all those brave men and women who gave their lives in service of their country.

As we are in awe of their bravery and the sacrifice that they have paid, we especially remember one of our former playing colleagues, DAVID MURRAY, who died on active service in the Afghanistan conflict during 2007.

During this period of remembrance please give generously to the annual appeal for the Royal British Legion; an organisation who do fantastic work in the welfare field.

There is a collection box on the bar at the Club.

In addition you might like to reinforce your support for the cause by attending the annual parade in Carlisle and service outside the Old Town Hall on Sunday 8th November.

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Egremont Multi Sports Club

A “Sports Legacy” is operating at Egremont Rugby Club and will be running right through until 26th February 2010.

It is multi sports activities (football, cricket, rugby, tag games etc) for girls and boys aged 5 – 13 every Friday from 4.30pm to 6.30pm.  It is free of charge and takes place on the astroturf (multi use games area).

Anyone interested can contact Rachael Jackson who is the Sports Development Coordinator at Egremont RUFC -  07590438410.

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U14’s & 15’s v Cockermouth

Both Carlisle U15’s and Cockermouth U14’s were struggling in raising teams for Sunday’s games, therefore Carlisle presented a mixed team of U15’s and U14’s (Carlisle Cobras) with Cockermouth doing the same.

The first half was predominently played by Carlisle U15’s with a couple of Cobras playing up.  Cockermouth started strongly and scored a try in the first 2 minutes of the game by their number 12 which was converted. The play continued in a very mixed fashion with both teams displaying strong attack and defensive strategies. On 23 minutes Carlisle equalised with a  try by Dean Kirsopp which he went onto convert.

The second half was played predominently by Cobras, but a second Cockermouth try at 39mins was scored, again by their number 12, converted by their number 10. Cockermouth  dominated  Carlisle territory, but strong Carlisle defence kept a number of try attempts at bay.

In the 52nd minute of the game, Cockermouth’s number 11 scored their 3rd try, which was not converted.   A lot of substitutions were made in this half by Carlisle to enable most players to get a run out.

A strong push by Carlisle saw Scott Hogarth take the ball to the try line in the 59th minute, but the ball was knocked on at the line.

Cockernouth’s final push in the last minutes of the game saw their number 9 score their final unconverted try.

Full report PDF

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Ilkley v Carlisle

Saturday, 31st October 2009
RFU North 1 East League

For the away fixture at Ilkley, the probability is that Carlisle will depend on the same XV that eclipsed Hartlepool Rovers at Warwick Road last week he team played well and the formation deserves an opportunity to improve as a unit.

But, anyone expecting an easy game at Ilkley should think again.  Last season they gave us two hard matches – drawing the opening match of the season at Warwick Road; the return game in Yorkshire being a narrow victory, thanks to a breakaway try from Matt Shields in the dying seconds of the encounter.

Skipper, Steve Stamper, delighted after the manner of the win over Hartlepool Rovers, said he was looking forward to the Yorkshire trip, particularly after reading comments from the Ilkley coach on their website.

The article was suggesting that for Ilkley it was a home “banker”.    Steve said, “Whilst not over confident after a great win last week, we will be looking to consolidate and take two more league points.

Ilkley will be no push over and we have to remember that on their own turf, they held Sandal to 10 pts to 19 pts  -  and we let our opening game of the season slip away to Sandal.

The game on Saturday is a massive one for us and I am looking to the lads to produce some good solid rugby.”

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All on the road

Saturday. 31st October 2009

There is no senior rugby at Warwick Road on Saturday, 31st October.

The 1st XV are off to Ilkley in North 1 East.  Anyone wanting to travel is welcome  -  meeting at the Club at 11.00 am for an 11.15 am departure.

The Crusaders travel to West Hartlepool whilst the Hornets are at Ambleside, although the chances of a game there may be remote  -  at the last check they had not played a game this season so far.

The Colts XV are at Alnwick.

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Carlisle U14’s 28 v Percy Park 0

Sunday 18th October 2009

The Carlisle Cobras (U14s,) travelled to the North East on 18th October to play at Percy Park,  where we received our usual warm welcome from our hosts on what was a very pleasant morning to play rugby.
The Cobras made hard work of the first half, never really looking as though they had woken up from their early morning alarm call. The North East side began very strongly, attacking the visitors in waves from the start. Their tenacity in attack, was evenly matched by the Cobra’s resolute defence.  Carlisles Tom Coulthard at full back, showed speed and determination in catching his own high kick early in the first half, but again, a tight Percy Park defence stopped him from gaining any ground.  Both teams were playing some good rugby without either side gaining the upper hand. Sluggishness and lack of support at times from the Cobras forwards allowed Percy Park to gain more possession as the half went on, but the Cobras defence held strong and did not allow Percy Park to advance the ball anywhere near  the try line.  The Cobras fly half Brett Connon had two attempts at drop goals from distance, but was unsuccessful on both occasions. This showed a determination from the Cobras to try and gain the advantage in a half that was going nowhere.

Percy Park continued to attack the Cobras try line, and in what was the closest they came to scoring, had a try disallowed for a double movement in the 24th minute of the game.  A very evenly matched first half  ended 0 – 0 , with both teams have tested each others resolve.

The Cobras began the second half strongly with the forwards starting to dominate much more than they did in the first half.  Some good rucking and then quick hands from scum half Sam Bell and inside centre Jason Israel, saw Gregg Graham finally break the deadlock in the 6th minute of the second period when he slid over the line near the corner flag.  Brett Connon converted a very difficult kick to give the Cumbrians a 7 – 0 lead.  Percy Park’s defence was beginning to get questions asked of them as the Cobras seemed to step up a gear with repeated surging runs by the forwards. Even though they continued to defend with a determination we have not seen the like of this season, Percy Park were unable to stop a well taken try by Tom Coulthard four minutes later right under the posts which again was converted by Brett Connon.

The Cobras were now gaining in confidence, and this showed in the way they were moving the ball between the forwards and backs keeping it away from the defending team.  Tom Fuller scored Cobra’s third try 15 minutes into the second half, with a typical mazy run. Connon again slotting the kick for the extra two points.

Percy Park attempted to attack the Cobras line repetedly, but were constantly kept at bay by a stoic display from the Cobras defence.

The final try of the game came 5 minutes from time after a powerful drive forward by James Robson, this saw him cross the line for his 5th try of the season. Brett Connon once again slotted the 2 points.

The final score of  0 – 28 owed much to the way the Cobras improved on their first half performance, with teammates at last talking to each other and working together as a team. This was a well fought out victory over a confident and very disciplined Percy Park side, who in fairness did not deserve to go away from this game without registering a score. Given that the last encounter was a much more one sided affair in the Cumbrians favour, the Percy Park coaching staff and team are to be commended for the amount of hard work they must have put in to make this the game it was.

Full Report PDF

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Carlisle 36 v Hartlepool Rovers 12

North 1 East League
Saturday, 24th October 2009

ROVERS RETURN  -  POINTLESS  -  AFTER CARLISLE DOMINATE AT WARWICK ROAD

After a somewhat stuttering start to the season the Warwick Road lads found enough fuel to oil the pistons enough to find some of the rhythm that has been missing of late.

Two wins from seven prior to this encounter was not a very favourable return; and after the final twenty minutes at Gateshead the previous week, there were indications that an improvement in the teamwork was emerging.  Emerge it did, as Hartlepool Rovers, newly promoted, found themselves under the cosh for a good part of the game.

As the teams ran out for the kick off, the Carlisle faithful could have been forgiven for thinking that another defensive barrage might have to be mounted.  To a man, Rovers looked a much bigger side and their arrogant swagger was soon put to the sword by a host side wanting to atone for a poor start to the league campaign.   The Rovers wanted to recover from their narrow home defeat (23  -  25) by league leaders Billingham the previous week, and if they felt Carlisle were going to be the whipping boys, then they were badly disappointed.

The opening shots came from Carlisle who took the game to Rovers in confident style.  The pack worked well against their heavier opponents, rucking and mauling to good effect.  They did not have it all their own way though, and had to work hard in defence to prevent the north east side getting a foothold on the game.

Eleven minutes into the opening half, scrum half George Graham broke loose about 30 metres out and couldn’t be caught before  touching down for the opening try that was just too wide left for Glen Weightman to convert.  However, he found his direction within five minutes to add a penalty.

The Warwick Road team were visibly gaining in confidence and a couple of minutes later, lock forward Dan Smithson grabbed a fine try with Weightman converting.

Rovers were clearly not content to sit back and on twenty six minutes managed an unconverted try wide out on the left, but that was to be their lot for the opening period before Weightman added a penalty to give his side the comfort of an 18 pts to 5 pts advantage at the break.

Within minutes of the restart Rovers were reduced to fourteen men, the referee deciding that he had heard enough of their attempts to referee the game, and flashed a yellow card.  Carlisle were quick to capitalise and Barry Earl on the left wing, was released to score in the left hand corner.

Carlisle relished the response from Rovers, who lost the ball for Weightman to boot up field into the Rovers twenty two;  Smithson got there and kicked it through a gap in the defence who had missed the lurking George Graham who nipped in for his second try of the match on forty seven minutes.

Carlisle had grabbed their chances in the game and their increasing confidence was compounded with an audacious dropped goal from Weightman just outside the twenty two area.

Hartlepool responded with a converted try on sixty two minutes.

Carlisle were not finished though and hooker Tom Graham, who had a fine game, barged over line to complete a satisfactory afternoon.

Not perfect, but a huge improvement on the previous three outings that had ended in disappointment.  If Carlisle can build on this display then they need have nothing to fear and should not worry about some after match Rovers suggestions that the city side were mediocre  -  it says more about how much better they were than their foes who clearly thought they were better than the score reflects!

Star men:

Forwards:    Dan Smithson
Backs:          Glen Weightman

Scorers for Carlisle:

Tries:

George Graham (2)
Barry Earl (1)
Dan Smithson (1)
Tom Graham (1)

Conversions:

Glen Weightman (1)

Penalties:

Glen Weightman (2)

Droppd goals:

Glen Weightman (1)

The starting line up:

15    Max Connon
14    BenBlain
13    Chris Harris
12    Dan Holmes (Ross Olney)
11    Barry Earl
10    Glen Weightman
9      George Graham
1      Steve Stamper (C)
2      Tom Graham
3      Mark Allan (Lee Brumpton)
4      Martin McGimpsey
5      Dan Smithson Matt Davis)
6      Gareth Wylie
7      Bobby Sherlock
8      Mark Barron
16    Lee Brumpton
17    Matt Davis
18    Ross Olney

Next week Carlisle travel to Ilkley.

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Under 10’s v Aspatria

Carlisle U10s maintained their winning start to the season in the first home fixture of the season, with a narrow victory of 8 tries to 6 against Aspatria who provided the toughest challenge of the season so far.

The visitors refused to give up after trailing early on and only some excellent defence, especially by Gregory Baines, and impressive work around the rucks and mauls by Jack Harrison kept them at bay.

Try scorers for Carlisle were Alex Hodgkinson (3), Christian Tait (2), George Dudley, Gregory Baines and Jack Harrison.
Aspatria replied through Daniel Sant (3), Michael Miller (2) and Richard Miller.

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COUGARS 52 – DARLINGTON 10

11TH OCTOBER 2009

Carlisle Cougars maintained top place in the Championship 2 North after playing their second league fixture of the season on Sunday against Darlington at their Warwick Road ground.

Following on from their success of last week, the Cougars were eager to keep Carlisle a fortress and attacked from the very first.  After a massive  tackle from the kick off, captain and coach’s player, Lucy Meadley, forged over the line twice for the first try of the match; her first touch down having been disallowed by the referee.

Keeping on the pressure, the Cougars competed well at the rucks against a much bigger pack, winning turnover ball and spreading the ball wide.  Winger Steph Musgrave got the ball in hand and sprinted from the halfway to score the Cougars second.  Darlington stepped up a gear but the Cougars defended well, finally winning a penalty for hands in the ruck. Quick thinking and quicker running from scrum half Phil Bell made it 15 – 0 at half time.

From the restart Darlington were fired up and capitalised on lazy defence, scoring two trys in quick succession.  The Cougars regrouped and strong running from Meadley saw her over for her second try.  This settled nerves and the Cougars stuck to the game plan, wearing the opposition down at the breakdown and sending the ball wide.

Heads up rugby saw fly half Lisa Richie run in two trys, one of which she went on to convert.  Darlington’s fitness started to wane as the Cougars capitalised on a sturdy platform.  Another try from Bell was followed by trys from Laura Cunningham and Sarah Gardener (player’s player).

Sam Meakin came on, settling the scrum and winning ball against the head. No. 8 Cunningham picked up and the ball was powered forward by Meakin.  Good support play by flanker Ruth Watt saw her there to pick up the pass and run over for the last try of the match.  Coach Jonny Taylor said:  “This was one of the best performances I have seen by the Cougars.”

The Cougars would like to thank match sponsors New Dimensions and Mellado Inc for their support on Sunday. The Cougars next home game is on 8th November at the Warwick Road ground 2.30 kick off.

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