Toshiba Cou~"'''' hampionship

CHESHIRE Saturday, ber, 1988

1 1 KICK OFF 3 p.rn. Toshiba County Championship Sy Terry Co oper, Corr espon dent for The Press Association

The status of the County Championship - sponsored for the second season by Toshiba - continues 10 be debated round the country.

John Simpson, President of the , stresses that the competit ion is there 10 be used to the best effect as judged by each county. "Ali official Rugby Union competitions are th ere for different objectives:' says Mr Simpson. "Th e Championship is the main com petition for the development of the game within the cou nt Y bodies . The requi rements of each county are not the same. And so we have situations as va ried as in Yorkshire and Leicestershire·. The Yorkshire side are be ner than any club in tha t county; but Leicestershire are clearly not as good as . " Mr Simpson is a Leicestershire man, but, despite the enthusiasm of the junior·club players who represent his county, he is unlikely 10 emulate the experience of John Burgess, his predecessor as Rugby Union Presiden t. Mr Burgess, a Lancastrian, had the pleasure of presenting the Toshiba Trophy 10 Sammy Southern after had beaten Warwickshire 23 -1B at Twickenham in last season's final. The differing approach 10 the Championship by administra tors around England is matched by the variety of venues and methods 01 deciding group wrnners. The grounds this autumn va ry lrom the [1 million Imber Cou rt stadium - 10 be used by bOlh Surrey and Middlesex - 10 Action from the 1988 Toshiba County Championship tradition -steeped Redruih in Cornwall, 10 ' Final between Lancashire and Warwickshire the rural se ning 01 Eastern Counties' Sudbury. ln the Divisions some preler the quick­ fire system 01 finding a semi-linalist, some a longer method. In the Midlands they play a basic two games belore a couple 01play -off rounds . In th e North the ali-play-ail system means Ihat every county has live matches. MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT OF

TODAY, it is my privilege and pleasure to welcome you ail on behalf of Cumbria Rugby Union to Lowmoor Road, Wigton where our Senior County XV play their first g? of the 1988/89 season in the Toshiba County Championship.

Our opponents this afternoon, who we are always delighted to recieve, are our friends from , who in past seasons have provided us with man y close encounters and no doubt they will be looking for a successful start in the Championship. 1 and the Cumbria team, however are confident that we can record a victory against our rivais, thus setting us firmly on the road to what we hope will be our most successful championship for many years. We are confident that our best­ ever season in modern times in the County Championship is not too far away. 1 look forward to agame which will be played in a spirit that will demonstrate ail that is best in Rugby Football. 1 .

To our supporters 1 would urge you to give our fullest support to our team in ail their games in the Toshiba County Championship - they deserve il. Let us give our team the sort of encouragement which will enable them to put Cumbria Rugby where it belongs - at the top.

Finally, 1 would like to thank Wigton R.U.F.C. for ail they have done in staging the game today - the first senior County Championship game to be staged at Lowmoor ai.....,.r d. Their support of the Cou nt y is greatly appreciated, and most heartening to us ALEC BLEASDALE President, Cumbria Rugby Union. • CUMBRIA V CHESHIRE 1 (Navy Blue Shirts) (Blue & White Hoops)

M. LOWTHER ...... Cockermouth 15 A. CHAPMAN ...... Birkenhead Park P. CUSACK ...... Cockermouth 14 G. HOWARTH ...... Pol ice R. TAYLOR ...... Vale of L J 13 'Ip. McMERLIN ...... Birkenhead Park N. McDOWELL ...... Cockermouth 12 A. IRVING ...... New Brighton J. HALL ...... Wigton 11 S. PLUMB ...... Lymm D. PEARS ...... Sale 110 S. FOSTER ...... ' ...... New Brighton G. DOGGART ...... Sale 9 P. NEWALL ...... Widnes " E. LITTLE ...... Wi gton 1 J. CAIRNS ...... Birkenhead Park N. BROWN ...... Aspatria 2 R. ALLCOCK ...... Winni ngton Park G. ROBERTSON ...... Penrith 3 S. GILL ...... Vale of Lune (Ca pt.) M. RICHARDSON ...... Egremont 4 P. McCRAVf . \)O ~ . " ~ 1...... Birkenhead Park K. GRAHAM ...... 5 K. QUINN . . .~ ...... Merseyside Police S. HODGSON ...... Vale of Lune 6 S. MORRISON ...... Sale N. CARRUTHERS ...... Wigto 7 P. BILLINGTON ...... Sale A. McFARLAN E ...... Sale (Ca pt.) ('8 A. McGARRIGLE ...... Winn ington Park

1 J. ROUTLEDGE ...... Egremont i"6 G. DOWDLALL ...... Ashton Upon Mersey M. PROUDLOCK ...... Wigton 17 M. MALLALIEN ...... Liverpool St. Helens

REFEREE: TOUCH JUDGES: J. S. DEN HAM ...... Du rham Referees Society D. 1. ADAMS ...... Liverpool Society A. IV'ISON ...... • ...... Cumbria • ' J '.

FUTURE COUNTY GAMES TOSHIBA COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP

Tuesday, 11th October at Aspatria, Kick off 7.15 p.m. " CUMBRIA v LANCASHIRE

Saturday, 1 5th October at , Kick off 3.00 p.m. CUMBRIA v YORKSHIRE --

Tuesday, 25th October at Durham City, Kick off 7.15 p.m. DURHAM v CUMBRIA

Saturday, 29th October at Tynedale, Kick off 3.00 p.m. NORTHUMBERLAND v CUMBRIA

Why not become a Patron of Cumbria, only E5 (Couples E7.50). Contact C. Garrard on (0900) 822835. TODAY • TOMORROW , , TOSHIBA • ,,

TODAY • TOMORROW TOSHIBA •