TETLEY Cup holders Newcastle Falcons' roadshow came to Kirkby Lonsdale RUFC last week.

Scottish international prop George Graham was among the party who brought the trophy and gave a series of coaching clinics for the club's players ranging from the minis right up to the senior club side.

The club has well-established links with New Zealand and a couple of new players are expected to travel over to join a young squad in the early autumn.

Kirkby Lonsdale have a friendly at Leigh this Saturday but they start their North Lancs/Cumbria League fixtures at home to Netherhall on Saturday week and among their new opponents this season will be Aspatria and Penrith, who have controversially dropped down to this level.

Kirkby have drawn Carlisle at home in the first round of the Intermediate Cup on September 15.

The club have a new president in Jim Dwyer while Spencer Storey is again the club captain.

Despite the playing problems, Kirkby Seconds captured the Cumbria Shield last season and the thirds are now a separate entity called Lonsdale Wanderers, who will play in North Lancs/Cumbria 2.

Hooker Martin Bateman takes over as Windermere's skipper in place of Paul Gillespie, who will continue to play.

Club captain/team manager is Mike Rowlinson while Joe Stephenson is the new club president with John Reid

taking over as secretary.

Windermere open their league campaign on Saturday at home to Whitehaven.