BARROW Island face the daunting task of bringing down the biggest and the best when they line-up in tomorrow’s Cumbria Cup final at Craven Park.

Standing in the way of their third County Cup win are Distington, the team Island coach Joe Elliott rates as the “best we have played.”

Vital National Conference League points are at stake in two other local games, when promotion-chasing Askam entertain Thornhill Trojans while Millom are at home to Hull visitors Skirlaugh.

BARROW ISLAND v DISTINGTON

(Craven Park, 2.30pm)

BARROW Island are within 80 minutes of lifting the Cumbria Cup, but standing in their way are undefeated Distington.

Island, who will be almost at full strength, face the Cumbria League leaders who recently won a local amateur cup and rattled up 50 points against an under strength Walney side in the semi-final.

While Distington were seeing off the challenge of Cents, Island were involved in a thriller with Glasson Rangers at Rating Lane, winning by eight points.

Three weeks ago, Island were 22-4 losers at Distington, who Island coach Joe Elliott described as the best he has come up against this season.

Elliott said ahead of the final: “No doubt Distington are the best team we have played. They are a good all-round side with two very good half-backs and a strong set of forwards.

“Their pack is big and robust. They are a rolling pack and in stand-off Scott George they have a key man who organises the pattern of play.”

Elliott is aware his team will have to win the battle of the forwards if his back line are to become a threat.

He added “We don’t have a big pack and we must get on top of them and look to Matt Parkinson and Jack Sutherland to lead the way up front.

“We will miss Callum Nelson (knee injury), along with Richard Chatfield, who is on holiday and is gutted about missing the game. But in Joe Spenceley we have a lad who is all action.

“We must get to them at the play the ball as they move very fast, we have to meet them head-on and slow them down.”

Sam Jones has been a rock in the centre this season. He tightens up the back line and, with fellow centre Perry Singleton back to form, the pair will look after the other backs.

Elliott added: “We have prepared well for this game and it is down to the lads to have the right attitude and, if that is right, then we can win it. I am expecting an open game – both teams like to throw the ball around, but if it gets tight then I fancy us to win.

“On the other hand, both teams are capable of blowing the opposition off the park.”

Elliott’s counterpart, Carl Hewer, is not getting carried away despite his team’s 100 per cent record in all competitions this season.

He said: “We are all looking forward to what should be a great game. It is a big challenge for us – these are two evenly-matched teams and the result could go either way.

“The challenge for us is to win this trophy. It’s the only one we have never won and four years ago we lost to Seaton.

“Both teams like to throw the ball around the park, so I am hoping it is going to be a dry day. We will have to be ready for whatever they throw at us but I am sure it will be an entertaining game.”

He added: “While we have a quality side, I am looking for our two half-backs, Scott George and Clayton Sutton, to dictate.

“Barrow Island have several good players – two are really outstanding in full-back Luke Creswell and centre Perry Singleton – and we know all about them.”

While Distington are playing in only their second final, Barrow Island have been in four, winning two and losing two.

Paul Kavanagh’s side won the trophy back in the 1988/89 season, beating a strong Kells side 16-10 at Craven Park, while Darren Carter’s team beat Seaton in 2005/06 – revenge for a 34-2 defeat two years earlier. In 1995/96, they lost 24-0 to Ellenborough.

Barrow Island line-up: Luke Creswell, Sam Attard, Sam Jones, Perry Singleton, Ryan Clegg, Andy Cairns, Ian Irvine, Jack Sutherland, Joe Spenceley, Matt Parkinson, Dan White, Matt Sayle, Scott Hadwin. Subs: Jake Carter, Blain Marwood, Gareth Shaw, Lewis Singleton.

Distington (from): Steven Conway, Phil Lister, Gavin Martin, Nick Burgess, Steven Clark, Ryan Hodgson, Scott George, Clayton Sutton, Carl Stephenson, Jamie Friel, Bryan Ritchie, Grant Dryden, Will Ritchie, Sean Sutton, Aiden Worthington, James Mottram, Shaun Adams, Liam Tunstall, Liam McNicholas, Jordan Scott, Daniel Park, Greg Bedford.

ASKAM v THORNHILL

(Fallowfield Park, 2.30pm)

TEENAGER Joe Satterthwaite comes in for his first senior game of the season as the Villagers look to complete the double over Thornhill.

Otherwise, it is a similar 17 to that which defeated Stanley 40-5 last weekend.

Coach Mike Wilson is looking for his side to keep up the pressure for a top-two place in National Conference Division Two, with the team currently fourth.

He said: “The double is on. We won 38-26 at their place and that was their first home defeat, but we will have to work for a win and compete for the full 80 minutes.”

Thornhill, three places below Askam, were beaten 22-16 at home to Blackbrook last week.

MILLOM v SKIRLAUGH

(Devonshire Road, 2.30pm)

WARWICK Carter and Hanley Dawson return to boost the Woollybacks for the visit of the Humbersiders, who are second in National Conference Division One, while Millom remain second-bottom.

Ethan Kelly and Rickie Donaghue are unavailable as the home side look to put last week’s disappointing defeat at the hands of fellow strugglers Shaw Cross behind them.

Coach Tom Sibley said: “We were disappointed to lose to a strong Shaw Cross side, but overall I thought we played well.

“We forced them into five goal-line drop-outs, but couldn’t capitalise. We should have been more creative.

“It is going to be tough against Skirlaugh, but I have targeted our next two games to get the right results.”