Rugby Union By John Walsh

Last updated 11:40, Thursday, 10 July 2008

ASPATRIA must travel in the first round of the EDF Energy National Trophy which will be played 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.

The other North ties are: Bedford Athletic v Westoe; Beverley v Preston Grasshoppers; Broadstreet v Bradford and Bingley; Broughton Park v Scunthorpe; Earlsdon v Caldy; Hereford v Fylde; Hull Ionians v Darlington Mowden Park; Longton v Nuneaton; Loughborough Students v Harrogate; Luctonians v Kettering; Macclesfield v Leigh; Morpeth v South Leicester; New Brighton v Hull; Newark v Birkenhead Park; Rugby Lions v Leicester Lions.

The EDF Energy National Trophy schedule is as follows: Round 2 – November 22, Round 3 – December 13, Round 4 – January 17, Round 5 – February 7, Quarter-finals – February 28, Semi-finals – March 21, Final – April 18.

National Two sides enter in round three and National One sides in round four.

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 today’s draw with Penrith facing a trip to the north east to take on Billingham while Carlisle are on the road to Rochdale.

The other first round ties in the north are: Blackburn v Rossendale; Gateshead v Pontefract; Ilkley v Sandal; Northwich v Altrincham Kersal; Old Crossleyans v Lymm; Wilmslow v Liverpool St. Helens.

There’s a tasty Cumbrian derby in the EDF Energy Senior Vase first round which will be played 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 draw which has produced a mixed bag of games – with fjve of the county clubs at home and five having to travel.

Starting with the home draws first – Cockermouth v Ponteland; Creighton v Winlaton Vulcans; Furness v Ruskin Park; Millom v North Ribblesdale; St. Benedict’s v Yarnbury.

Teams on the road are: Huddersfield YMCA v Gosforth Greengarth; Keighley v Whitehaven; Leodiensians v Egremont; North Shgields v Aspatria Eagles; Whitley Bay Rockcliff v Netherhall.

The other North ties are: Anselmians v Old Bedians; Ashton-under-Lyne v Trentham; Aspull v Garstang; Barnard Castle v Ripon; Bolton v Orrell Anvils; Bury v Ashton-on-Mersey; Castleford v Team Northumbria; Crewe and Nantwich v Eccles; Knottingley v Hartlepool; Moortown v Houghton; Pocklington v West Hartlepool TDSOB; Southport v Littleborough; Trafford MV v Sefton; Wallasey v Didsbury Toc H; Warrington v Birchfield (Lancs); Wheatley Hills v Redcar.

There’s a possibility this could be the last season of knockout rugby as EDF Energy are set to end their sponsorship.

There’s a school of thought which believes that the Leagues should be extended at the expense of the Cup competitions – especially with travelling costs continuing to spiral.

The Rugby Football Union wants everyone involved in rugby union in England to work together to create the best possible competition structure for the game.