CUMBRIA Under-20 rugby team have not mounted a strong challenge for regional Inter-County honours for a season or two, but they set themselves up for a big game against Lancashire at Sedgley Park on Sunday week when they beat Durham 21-12 on a soggy pitch at Wigton.

Durham started strongly, but Cumbria's defence held firm and they eventually claimed the only score of the first-half when Keswick fly-half Glen Weightman kicked a penalty.

A second Weightman penalty was then followed by a try from Egremont wingman Alfred Sherwen that Weightman converted and third Weightman penalty put the home side in the driving seat at 16-0.

Durham hit back with a try from Durham University centre David Astle, which was followed by another score from prop Andrew Harrison (Consett) that Blaydon fly-half Dan Kyle converted to complete the scoring.

Cumbria now visit Lancashire hoping for the win that could clinch them second spot and a quarter-final place, although they have yet to meet Yorkshire.