THE World Cup is coming to Cumbria.
It is moving up from Lancashire, where its presence at the major clubs, including Fylde, Preston and Vale of Lune, attracted crowds measured in thousands to see the physical manifestation of the RFU's achievement.
At a time when Cumbrian clubs are struggling like never before to field teams, attract interest and promote involvement, what a great boost to the game in the county. Valiant club officials, the amateur servants of the game who battle against lengthening odds to keep the game going, could finally be given a sharp tool to do the job.
Sadly, this is not to be the case. The Governing Body, in its wisdom, devolved decision making for the trophy's route to its constituent bodies, the counties. It is their representatives who constituted the committee of 57 made popular by Will Carling.
Lancashire saw the logical location for the trophy's public appearances to be the clubs, the bodies whose existence is testimony to their capacity to promote the game.
Their Cumbrian counterparts, however, have decided to parade the Webb Ellis Trophy in shopping centres and schools which are closed for half term.
Neither the struggling Lakeland clubs, nor the county's leading clubs, are to be given the opportunity to use the visit to promote themselves, or the game.
Cumbria's largesse has, however, been bestowed on Penrith RFC, in its apparent capacity as its rugby epicentre. As well as being at the centre of North Division Two West.
So, on Saturday, when there are three home games at Mint Bridge in the afternoon, in three different competitions, when William Webb Ellis's legacy is wheeled in all its glory to the unglamorous confines of Shap Road, it will restrict itself to the east side, where its presence at the closed Queen Katharine School can provide a diversion to Morrison's shoppers.
The club is proud of its relationship with the school, and the excellent development work which Chris Hayton does there: this visit might have further strengthened this link, bringing more pupils stimulated by the game into the club environment.
As a timely reminder of the difficulties of the game in the area, Dave Johnson's team departed from the club last Saturday in anticipation of a game for Kendal 3rd v Workington 2nd. A scenic trip across the A66, with Blencathra bathed in early spring sunshine, was the extent of their recreation, as they received a call at Cockermouth to inform them that the home side could raise only five players. The Workington club will not benefit from the visit of the World Cup either.
They were able to return to Mint Bridge to witness the visit of league leaders, unbeaten Waterloo.
In a high quality game, the better side certainly won, but by a flattering margin, as they were able to maximise their chances with some pacy finishing.
Several of their scores owed much to good fortune, and three points was a disappointing return for the rugby we played and the number of times we opened up the visitors' defence or created overlaps that were not finished off.
The re-arranged visit of Macclesfield gives us an early opportunity to make the product match the process; and cross the road to be inspired by the World Cup.
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