Last updated 19:43, Thursday, 10 July 2008

ASPATRIA must travel in the first round of the EDF Energy National Trophy on October 18.

The Black Reds, who lost to Kendal in the Story Cumbria Cup final last season, have been handed a trip to Huddersfield.

County Cup winners Kendal have a home tie against Halifax at the same stage of the competition.

Penrith and Carlisle are Cumbria’s representatives in the EDF Energy Intermediate Cup, which also has its first round on October 18.

But both were out of luck in the draw with Penrith facing a trip to Billingham while Carlisle are on the road to Rochdale.

There’s a tasty Cumbrian derby in the EDF Energy Senior Vase first round on September 6 - Wigton host their neighbours and North Lancs Cumbria League rivals Workington.

It’s the only all-Cumbrian clash in the first round, the others involving Cumbrian clubs being Cockermouth v Ponteland, Creighton v Winlaton Vulcans, Furness v Ruskin Park, Millom v North Ribblesdale, St Benedict’s v Yarnbury, Huddersfield YMCA v Gosforth Greengarth, Keighley v Whitehaven, Leodiensians v Egremont, North Shields v Aspatria Eagles, Whitley Bay Rockcliff v Netherhall.

A series of touch rugby events are being planned in the north of Cumbria.

The first of four tournaments, sponsored by Williams and Airey family solicitors, takes place tomorrow at Penrith rugby club.

The other events are at Carlisle RUFC and Creighton finishing with Upper Eden hosting on August 2.

For details call Nigel Beaty 07772112827 or Graham Kidd 07772112823.

And a couple of training camps are being staged ahead of the new season.

Newcastle Falcons will be based at Carlisle RUFC later this month, and then in August a brand new coaching company aimed at improving the quality of playing and coaching at club rugby will be at Aspatria.