In the Cumbria League, Walney Central hit the trail to Wath Brow to take on their A-team. In the North West Men’s League Division One Hindpool Tigers will be aiming to build on their impressive victory over Chorley Panthers in their bid to secure a top-four finish when Bamber Bridge travel to Brisbane Park.
Askam v Underbank
Fallowfield Park 2.30pm
The Villagers’ coach, who took an under-strength side to Featherstone, said after the crushing defeat: “In the first half we competed in spells and that was acceptable but, the second half, I was disappointed as we fell away as fatigue set in and they ran riot.
“We must bounce back with a good response and I feel at home we can do that.
“We have played good rugby at home in most games this season and I feel we can be a match for any team. We must fight harder and compete and at home, we are capable of doing that.”
Missing are Gary Bolton, Alex Brailsford and Jack Cairns but back in contention are Jonathan Walsh, Darren Gaskell, Rory Marshall and Jack Moses.
Facing late fitness tests are Russ Bolton (head injury) and Dan Sayle (chest infection).
Wath Brow A v Walney Central
They will have to call upon several of the A-team squad that face Ulverston in tonight’s Barrow and District League CJS Cars Knockout Cup final at Craven Park (kick-off 7pm)
Out of the reckoning are Mike Elliott, Dave Warne, Mark McKinley, Liam Finch and Danny Lockhart. Hoping for a run-out is Matty Elliott, who has been sidelined for more than three weeks through injury.
Jordan Staffieri who tours Serbia with BARLA next weekend so he is keen to test himself.
Blain Devlin and Carl McBain, who missed last week’s win at Ulverston, are back in contention.
Coach Shaun Morrow said: “Again we are down in numbers and know we face a difficult game against the Brow, they are a young side that never give up.”
Morrow will have one eye on the local game up the coast where Seaton are home to leaders Distington.
If Seaton win and Walney are successful then the Cents will be crowned champions for a third successive year.
Last weekend Distington were winners at home to Seaton and regardless of who wins, Walney will definitely have a home tie with Barrow Island in the semi final of the Top Four play-offs.
Hindpool v Bamber Bridge
Brisbane Park (2.30pm)
On paper it should have been a close encounter against the Panthers but the Tigers blew them away in the first 15 minutes and ended up coasting to victory. It was good to welcome back Paul Rickelton for that match. He had missed large parts of the season through injuries and he showed what the Tigers could have been missing for large parts of the season by crossing for a hat-trick.
Seventeen-year-old winger Connor McDermott has been a revelation this season and he continues to impress.
He was another player to cross for a hat-trick against the Panthers and will be looking to add to the four he scored at Bamber Bridge earlier in the season.
Grant Burns, who picked up a knock against Chorley, is hopeful of recovering from a neck injury.
He has played consistently well this season and would be a big miss if he didn’t make it.
The Tigers are also hoping to have Pete Rimmer back in the fold, after he missed out last week following a knock against Wigan St Pats the previous week.
Hindpool are waiting on the availability of Josh Archer and Jamie McIlroy and there could be a place in squad for Brad Rowan.
Games against Bamber Bridge are usually close affairs. Over the past few seasons both teams have been title contenders but this year they seem to have fallen on hard times.
Hindpool won the away game easily 50-10, but the Barrow side will not be taking them lightly.
The Tigers have two home games to finish the season and are looking to secure fourth place and a play-off spot.
After a difficult start to the season, due to a lot of injuries, the play-offs would give Hindpool the platform to show what they are truly capable of.
Tigers coach Phil Cubiss said: “Bamber are a big team so our defence will have to be solid through our middles. They always pose a threat, especially early on in games when they are fresh.”
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