CUMBRIA have one hand on the County Tri-Series crown ahead of a big weekend in Lancashire.

The county’s emphatic 42-16 victory over Yorkshire at Egremont last weekend means victory at Blackbrook on Sunday will land them the title.

Led by former Barrow Raiders and Cumbria skipper Gary Broadbent and ex-Workington Town assistant Les Ashe, Cumbria made the ideal start to their campaign against the White Rose county.

The coaching duo, who are assisted by Matthew Johnson and Neil Frazer, have been forced to make three changes from last weekend, with Distington forwards Ade Worthington and Brian Ritchie unavailable, along with Walney Central’s Danny Morrow. Into the 17 for the match with Lancashire come Cents’ bustling second-row forward Matty Holmes and experienced Millom number nine Lee Edmondson, plus one more to be named.

Broadbent said ahead of the trip down the M6: “Due to Danny pulling out with other commitments, Matty Holmes get his chance. He was unfortunate to miss out last week and deserves the opportunity.

“Lee Edmondson was a late withdrawal last week and, though I can only praise all the players – especially those from the south of the county – I must mention his Millom team-mate Marcus O’Brien, who played the entire 80 minutes with Lee pulling out. It’s not often these days that you see the number nine play all the game.”

Last week’s game went ahead at Egremont seven days after being called off due to the heavy rain in West Cumbria.

Broadbent added: “We have to thank Sam Bailey and his team, who ensured the game went ahead. They did a great job in getting the pitch fit.”

Cumbria will travel to Blackbrook with an air of confidence after the brilliant victory over Yorkshire.

They are aiming to go one better than last year, when Lancashire lifted the trophy after all teams won one and lost one. Sunday’s hosts took the title with a better points difference.

Broadbent praised players who hardly had time to get to know each other as scheduled training sessions were hampered by the weather and lads having work commitments.

Most had had no playing time since the end of the regular season in September.

The former Walney coach said: “It was a really good performance when you consider what was against us in our preparation and being without the services of any Kells and Wath Brow players (Cumbria’s leading National Conference teams).

“Conditions on the day were good and the forwards laid down the platform and the backs made good yardage off their hard work.

“The bench – when called upon – made an impact. It was a good effort all round.”

Lancashire were winners in Yorkshire two weeks ago and sent a deputation to West Cumbria to run the rule over this weekend’s visitors. They must have gone home impressed with what was on offer.

Looking ahead to the winner-takes-all clash, Broadbent added: “We are not worrying about Lancashire, we will concentrate on our task.

“Again, I state what a good performance it was last week when you consider what a small county we are. We have West and South Cumbria to choose from.

“When you look at Yorkshire and where they can select from – Leeds, Bradford, Castleford, Huddersfield and even over to Humberside and this weekend Lancashire look at lads from big towns like Wigan, St Helens, Warrington, Widnes and Leigh.

“If we pull it off, it will be a great achievement and we will go down there quietly confident.

“The elements were against us once more this week, as we couldn’t get together, but with an early start Sunday morning due to the under-19s playing first we will have a good session.”

South Cumbria players figured prominently on the scoresheet against Yorkshire, with tries coming from Mark Tyson (Askam), Morrow and Sam Jones and Luke Cresswell (both Barrow Island). Millom’s Adam Kelly kicked six goals and Island’s Perry Singleton was heavily involved throughout.

Cumbria Under-19s face a tough hurdle against Lancashire after they went down 36-10 to Yorkshire last weekend, with Dalton’s Ryan Johnston and Jack Gordon crossing for their only tries.