WITH the rugby union season taking its traditional Christmas break, it is time to look back on how the area's teams have been progressing during the first half of the year.

Hawcoat Park are well-placed to mount a challenge for promotion in the North Lancs/Cumbria League, while their second team are poised to do the same in the North West Raging Bull League.

In the Cumbria League, Furness have overcome a difficult start to start putting some wins together, while Windermere have been going well too. However, a lack of games is affecting Ambleside.

There is good news at Millom though, where the relaunched second team is adding much depth to the squad and showing positive signs for the future of the Wilson Park outfit.

FURNESS

THE slow start to the season and the availability of players hit Furness early doors in their Cumbria League One campaign. This resulted in a number of early losses for the first team and the difficulty of raising a second string, which had been a strength the previous year.

Every week brings its challenges with who can play, but the Blues do seem to have turned the corner. The dilemma now appears to be who they leave out, which is creating competition for places and therefore resulting in a run of convincing wins.

With four victories from the last six games, the improvement is there for everyone to see and the two defeats came when the team was depleted by work commitments and other reasons.

Rhys Studt is leading the team this year, with Joe Mallinson always on hand to throw his hat into the ring. The return of Tom Brannon to the team gives them a great attacking threat every week - especially when you look at Sam Attard, also looking to play week-in week-out.

Another big plus is the return to form of Corne Els, whose big, aggressive game-set is a must for the side going forward. Some new faces have joined Furness in former Hawcoat Park player Adam Jackson and his Askam rugby league team-mate Tom Hopkins, who are a real handful together on their day.

Young Jordan Ashton has been superb at scrum-half with his tenacious game play and will only develop with the more game-time he gets under his belt. Furness have also been helped out by a number of rugby league converts which is good to see.

The coaching mantle has been taken up by the inexperienced Dillan Taputu, who is learning as the weeks go by, but has done a very good job nevertheless which it is hoped he will continue into 2017.

In 2016, Furness have been looking to get the junior Blues back up and running under the guidance of Peter Helm and Derek Asbury, but a must going forward is the progression of the A-team which will no doubt build momentum heading into next year.

The A-team is becoming more important as the core numbers for the first team keep increasing, meaning Furness are having to leave out a number of personnel each week. This gives the club massive hope and a driver that the first A-team game in the new year will be fulfilled by a strong side.

HAWCOAT PARK

BOTH teams from Hawcoat are having a great first half of the season. Club captain Danny White is leading the team well as the first team stand fifth in the North Lancs/Cumbria League, only three points behind second in a very tight division.

One of the players of the season so far, Ash Mowat, has been taking the team forward at every opportunity. Another great inclusion to the side is George Smith, who moved from Furness early season and has been a revelation along with James Howden - although Howden’s work commitments has meant he has missed a few games this year.

The front three changes from week to week, with Jason Priss, John Donnan, Adam Grainger, Johnny Burrows and Ryan Milner all having played there this year. The same can be said for scrum-half, which has one of young Jack Shannon, Antony Munday or Burrows at its helm, showing great strength in numbers, but causing selection headaches every week.

Vice-captain Will Mallinson has had a phenomenal season with the back row men Callum Ramsey, Mike Lightfoot and Matty Sayle always on hand. Chris Burns has been ever-present in the centres, sharing his game in the main with Jack Sutherland.

With wide men Will Coles, Ryan Clegg, Glenn Kaighan and Elliot McDermott able to take to the field, the team is showing some real strength in depth going into the new year.

The A-team is also playing well, standing second in the North West Raging Bull League. Led by the likes of Dave Wynne, Jay Crowe and Pete Jennens, the team goes from strength to strength.

Work commitments are dictating numbers travelling from time to time, but they find themselves in a good place going into next year. Paul Woodburn is the cornerstone of the side, with Ryan Brown not missing a game so far. The Sayle brothers, Rory and Lewis, have been brilliant and have helped in moulding the team no end.

Young colts Dan Armitstead, Charlie Butterworth, Joe Rea and Kyle Waterson have all shown up well, with Connor McDermott helping himself to a dozen tries so far this year, while the return of Scott Garnett has been a big lift for the side also.

The second half of the season could well see the team promoted, which will be a massive achievement if they all keep playing as they have been. The club is in a strong position, which is great for the game in the area.

MILLOM

MILLOM are back to running two sides again, with a great mixture of youth and experience in both teams making for a good club environment.

Ian Cummings has led from the front and will be looking to do the same next year backed up by the likes of Dean Doyle and Steve Watson. In the engine room we see two of last year’s colts look to cement their roles, with Joe Thomlison and Keiron Coulson taking on all-comers.

The back line has seen an number of changes as once again work and injuries have taken their toll. Chris Parks and Ryan Carter have led the way in the main supported Trevor Dixon who is always in the fray along with Craig Mounsey, who has also played in the back row this season showing his game prowess in both forwards and back.

Robbie Pattinson is developing well at scrum-half and is controlling the set-piece. An impressive back row of Joe Laydon, James Wilson, Matthew Jordan, Joe Fisher and Dean Redhead have got to the breakdown first to snaffle good ball for the team, so the likes Douglas Jardine and Jordan Moyes to show off their silky skill set. John Falconer, at full-back, has been a rock and will aim to continue in his rich vein of form

The second string have gone from strength to strength thanks to some great game-play and great support from the club as a whole. Once again the team is being led by the future of the club and the young lads that have come through the youth set-up at Wilson Park.

Mike Kirkham and Callum Loughran have been influential this season, gaining confidence with every game. Steven Forster has shown up well for both first and second teams out wide, but with a second row of Macaulay Clarke and Daryl Smith, the team cannot go wrong in both loose and the tight.

Dale McGlaughlin and David Thompson have been playing well as of late, and with the experience of Ian Fisher and club coach Gordon Park always around, there is a great mix of young and experience.

Other players in the fold such as Nathan Bennett, Ian Armstrong and Jarty Robinson are making the club structure at Millom a strong one.

WINDERMERE

THE Ambers of Dawes Meadow are currently sitting in the middle of the Cumbria League One table, but top of the area's rugby union sides. Windermere are starting to gain some stability in the side after an injury-ravaged opening.

Losing their skipper in the first game did not help, but up stepped Jamie Hardman to take the reins. Elsewhere, club stalwart Dan Harrison has been ever-present and has linked up well with fellow front rower Luke Todd.

The backs have been lead well by scrum-half Dan Neild and Bertie Hodgeson, who have been keeping the side going forward. Former Furness man Tadhg Butler has been playing some great rugby along with Johnny Benson and the returning Paul Mayler in the second row.

Moses Dawson has led the finishers well, with fellow runners Tim Sheasby and Liam Garnett showing up well at all times. The line has been led well from the back with Andrew Duncan pulling the strings in both defence and attack, keeping the troops in front of him in good order.

Centre field has seen a number of faces, with Dave Oakley, Tom Atkinson, Dawson, Sheasby all playing there. The back row is where the ball is won and lost, so with Joe Turner, Jon Sheasby, Joe Hallam and Connor Maher all putting the jersey on the team are in safe hands going into the second half of the season.

AMBLESIDE

AMBLESIDE have been struggling for games this season with a good number of matches being cancelled on them due to sides not travelling or not able to raise a side.

Paul Longster has been pulling his hair out trying to keep the side focused and on the right track. Gregg Stephenson, Pip Houghton and Mike Gibson have been keeping the ship steady with Paul Aires always on hand to help if required.

Keenan Longster has been brilliant from scrum-half and has kept good, clean ball going to his back line, with fly-half Pete Holgate always around to release the likes of Matt Middlemiss and Steven Matthews who can break down a defence line at will, given half a chance.

Skipper Paul Logster has linked up with big Jacob Taylor this year, which has been a big lift for the side - especially when you take into the back row containing Alfie White, Andrew Clayton and Gregg Machino, who have played some great rugby so far this season.

Lewis Kelly at full-back has had Tim Horsfall and Rory Townsend by his side for the most of the season and they have scored some great tries between them as they go in search of the points. The Galava Park side need more games to keep the momentum going, something they hope they will get in the second half of the campaign.