Millom v University of Hull

Devonshire Road 2pm

THE long road to Wembley sets off tomorrow when Millom – the oldest amateur club in the country – take on the University of Hull.

A big crowd is anticipated at Coronation Field as the Woollybacks look to book a place in round two of the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup at the expense of the Humbersiders.

Millom are hopeful of going through and then progressing to round three when Championship and League One clubs enter the competition.

Millom are no newcomers to the Challenge Cup having been paired with professional clubs a few times over the last 35 years.

A classic match occurred in 1980 when a star-studded Woollybacks side full of Great Britain players and a host of future professionals took on the might of Hull at the famous Boulevard.

Hull were flying high in the pro ranks at the time and were made to fight all the way to see off the challenge of Millom.

A crowd of more than 9,000 saw the Woolybacks stun the hosts when man of the match Peter Date cross for a try, which was converted by Peter Knowles. Hull fought back to go in at the break 10-5 up, and increased their lead to 20-5 in the second period.

Midway through the half a Clive Mossop try and Knowles goal narrowed the gap to 20-10 with the visitors becoming the first team to score double figures against the Airlie Birds that season.

Seven years earlier in 1973 a crowd in the region of 3,000 packed into Devonshire Road as Millom ran Hunslet close.

The Yorkshiremen paraded one of the great second row forwards in Geoff Gunney and though Millom put up a brave fight it was Hunslet who were victorious at 18-5.

Although tomorrow’s crowd will not match the 3,000 mark, the rugby-mad Millom folk will be out in their hundreds to see their heroes try and make progress. However, the Woollybacks go into battle without their star prop forward Ethan Kelly who will spend the next 12 months down under with New South Wales club Mossvale Dragons. But back into the fold after spending last year at Conference Premier Division side Egremont are Matty Palmer and Ross Brookes, they are joined by Ulverston forward Liam Saunders.

Tom Sibley, who took over the hot-seat at Devonshire Road following the departure of Anthony Murray (now North Wales Crusaders boss) guided the Woollybacks to the National Conference Division Two title last season and is looking forward to the visit of the University of Hull outfit.

The BARLA international said ahead of the game: “The Challenge Cup is something special and we aim to make progress and meet a professional team a couple of rounds down the road.

“It is nice to see Matt Palmer and Ross Brookes back with us and Liam Saunders will fill the boots of Ethan Kelly. And with several youngsters pressing for a first team shirt, competition is healthy.

“I don’t know much about Hull. They play in the Northern BUCS League Premier Division and have had some decent results, lately scoring a few points.

“We will be looking at how we play and be fast around the ruck area and move the ball away at speed.

“We have had around 25 potential first team players regularly training but the weather has not helped.

“We have trained in the school and had a couple of work-outs on our back pitch but that has been heavy.

“But we are raring to go and Ethan Kelly will be a big miss, but all at Millom wish him all the best Down Under.

“We have a good all-round squad and young lads like Bob Wright, Jonathan Hodgson and Owen Myers all gained experience last year.

“Steve Dawson is back and raring to go along with Aussie Warwick Carter who will commute from Manchester. All will be in contention for selection.”

One player Sibley won’t be able to call on is skipper Lee Edmondson who has a back injury and is looking to get back on track for the season-opener on March 5.

Fellow hooker Marcus O’Brien, who rediscovered his best form last season after a serious injury, will take on the skipper’s role tomorrow.

Siddal v Dalton

DALTON aim to halt a hat-trick of defeats when they visit Siddal, but they face a tough encounter with several players unavailable.

Harri Brown, Tom Sharpe, Scott Beattie, Joe Braund-Smith and Jamie Southward are unavailable, along with Jordan Woodend. Back in the fold are Paul Armstrong, Josh Dent and Joe Gray.