A KEY battle in deciding the destiny of the Cumbria League title takes place at Rating Lane tonight.

Reigning champions Walney head to Barrow Island knowing only a win will do if they are to retain their crown.

Elsewhere, Ulverston and Roose Pioneers are also in Cumbria League action tomorrow.

BARROW ISLAND v WALNEY CENTRAL

(Rating Lane, 6.30pm tonight)

BARROW Island welcome back skipper Richard Chatfield, Matt Parkinson, Jack Sutherland and Andrew Cairns for this top-four clash with the Cents.

Island are looking for a win to keep their top-four hopes alive, while Walney cannot afford to drop points in their bid to retain the title they have held for the last two years.

Matt Sayle will undergo a late fitness test on an ankle injury and Joe Spencely is unavailable for the home side, but coach Neil Shaw will be happy to have his key forwards to call on.

The former Barrow RL player said: “It is nice to have a near full-strength side out and the lads are really up for this one.

“We owe Walney one. They beat us convincingly at their place. Too many of our players didn’t turn up that day and we were second-best.”

Shaw added: “We did well at Seaton last week. They’re the Cumbria Cup holders and we gave them a game.

“We were leading at half-time until we ran out of steam towards the end.

“We had to play several A-teamers who had played the night before in the Harry Warman Cup and they never let us down.

“We had a good session on Tuesday and we are all looking forward to the game.”

Walney coach Shaun Morrow is fully aware his side must win tonight.

They are four points behind leaders Distington, but have two games in hand, and Morrow is aware it will not be easy at Rating Lane – where his side lost their only league game last season.

He said: “We will go there with all guns firing.

“We need to win our remaining games, and if we go down tonight then we will almost hand the title to Distington.”

Key man Brad Nicholls looks like missing after out he caught a finger in the eye at Distington which scratched the surface. 

He was visiting Furness General Hospital today. Definitely ruled out are Jamie Morrow, Matt Elliott, Jack Pedley, Mike Whitehead, Carl McBain and Dave Nicholson – who broke his hand at Distington. 

On the plus-side, Danny Lockhart returns.

Barrow Island are hosting a race night to raise funds for Perry Singleton’s tour of South Africa with BARLA, as well as for Chatfield, Ian Irvine and Gareth Shaw, who are part of the Cumbria Men’s League side who will tour Serbia.

It will take place after tonight's match against Walney Central at Rating Lane, starting at approximately 8.30pm.

ULVERSTON v SEATON

(Dragley Beck, 2.30pm tomorrow)

ULVERSTON take on in-form Seaton, but who plays for the home side is the $64,000 question.

Coach Phil Atkinson said: “I haven’t a clue what the 17 will be. We have so many out, we are really down to the bare bones.

“Last week (when they lost 52-44 to Roose) I threw in two lads who had only trained twice, Brad Joy and Jayson Richards (brother of St Helens forward Greg).

“We did okay and it was a high-scoring game with both teams well under-strength. We are no stronger this week.”

Liam High come in and, though Tom Wilkinson is back from a successful BARLA Under 23s tour of Canada, he has work commitments.

Seaton come to Dragley Beck on the back of a 28-8 victory at Maryport on Wednesday.

MARYPORT v ROOSE PIONEERS

RUSS Birch, Joe Mallinson and Steve Perry are set to return for Pioneers for the trip to the west of the county, but ruled out are Dan and Ade White, Johnny Sloane and Joel Williams.

Coach Jim Perry said: “It was nice to get that first win last week against Ulverston. Let’s hope we can continue the good work at Maryport.”

The Millom v Oldham St Annes game in National Conference Division Two has been rearranged for Saturday, August 8, due to the Oldham side being unable to raise a side tomorrow.

l Best wishes and congratulations go to Tom Sibley (Millom) and James Finch (Walney) and their partners, who are due walk down the aisle tomorrow.