Last updated 11:34, Monday, 28 April 2008

IT’S NEVER too late to impress on the sports field. A new over-35s rugby league format planned for Cumbria gives hope to all who thought their best years were behind them.

A veterans’ team from the county recently beat a Scottish team at a tournament in Lancashire.

Now it is hoped that several over-35s district teams will be launched across Cumbria.

While there’s nothing new about veterans’ leagues, this one caught Reiver’s eye thanks to an intriguing rule: tackling is allowed only on players aged up to 49. The way appears open for anyone over 50 to saunter unmolested towards the try line.

Several over-60s played for Cumbria against the Scots, including former union and league star Bev Risman, above, who is now in his 70s.

One question springs to mind: how do they tell the over-50s from the young pups of 49 and under?

Colour-coded shorts are apparently used, but Reiver wonders how reliable this system might be on a muddy day, especially when it relies on the eyesight of elderly men who spent much of their younger days being bashed about the head.

Perhaps as the game evolves a more foolproof system involving the waving of bus passes, walking sticks or bags of Werther’s Original may develop.

Anyone interested in taking part in a new veterans’ league can contact Alan Davidson on 07515 753675.