Games between the sides are traditionally close. We lost 27-24 at Bower Park in November,  but could have won as we had the Black Reds on the ropes in the final ten minutes as they went down to 12 men courtesy of yellow cards. The last time the sides met at Brinkburn in 2021 when West won 27-26.

Aspatria will travel in a comfortable fifth place,  but possibly still smarting for their Cumbria Cup semi-final exit in the local derby at Carlisle last week.

Carlisle will be in this league next season, after winning Cumbria One, Such is the complications of life across in the scenic side of the country their first team will this week be playing Aspatria II’s in a Cumbria One league game.

Work commitments and ski-ing means there has been the customary team changes for the coaches to ponder,  as they also look to get a balanced side out for the Stags game at Wensleydale.

Will Corbett will be starting in the second row alongside the ever-present Ollie Webster, with Adam Hutchinson moving to hooker in the absence of Aidan Jackson-Smith who has managed to combine a trip to Benidorm to top up his tan before hitting the ski slopes with Max Tennant. Jack Angus will be propping alongside Liam Pennick who has shaken off an injury at Middlesbrough.

Three Baggs Full at Seghill - cousin Jordan, dad Brendan and son Matt.

In the backs Matty Baggs continues his excellent first season in senior rugby. Matty turned out for a “Vets” side against Seghill IIs last week - playing alongside dad Brendan who was voted Man of the Match. That must have led to some lively breakfast table banter.

Matt willl be at scrum half with skipper Ryan Painter at fly-half,  allowing Ollie Connolly to return to inside centre alongside Will Hilditch and top try scorer Lewis Scott back on his favoured wing - before he joins the ski-party. With Jacob Wood still injured the versatile Matt Siddle continues on the other wing and Sam Knight at full-back.

There will be one new face on the bench with 17-year-old Kai Peirse earning his opportunity after some excellent games in the backs for the Stags.

Josh Wilson is fit again after his injury at Morpeth,  and will be providing second row cover with the experienced Tim Blades ready to give the front row a breather. The back row,  which has been in top form in recent games,  remains unchanged.