ROOSE Pioneers and Barrow Island go head-to-head in the Cumbria League tonight.

The derby game is the pick of the weekend’s matches, with Ulverston and Walney Central also in Cumbria League action tomorrow.

Hindpool's match at Wigan Spring View in North West Men’s Division One has been called off due to a waterlogged pitch.

ROOSE PIONEERS v BARROW ISLAND

(Redwaters. Tonight, 7pm)

A MINUTE’S applause will take place at all rugby league grounds this weekend following the death of 17-year-old Huddersfield Giants Academy player Ronan Costello.

He died this week after sustaining a head injury in the game with Salford last weekend.

Tonight at Redwaters, they will also honour former Holker Pioneers junior full-back Willie Richardson, who died suddenly this week.

Pioneers will be looking for a Cumbria League victory as a tribute to their former player. The Redwaters outfit will be seeking their second win of the campaign after their maiden victory over Ulverston two weeks ago.

Rhys Studt, Ade White and Mike Bower miss out for Roose, with Russ Birch, Brad Morrow and George Smith coming into the squad.

Coach Steve Neale said: “We will field a pretty strong side and are quietly confident that we can get our second win of the season.

“We are getting stronger with each game and are not running around like we had to earlier in the season for players.”

Pioneers are a team who never give up, despite only having the bare 13 or 14 players available for some matches. With play-makers Adam Batty and Steve Perry on board, they will test the Island defence.

Island are without skipper Perry Singleton (illness) and Dan White (unavailable), but welcome back Matt Sayle following his wedding, along with Gareth Shaw, who missed the defeat at Distington last week.

Coach Joe Elliott said ahead of the derby clash: “We will not take them lightly. They got their first win over Ulverston recently and will be up for it.

“We will have to be focused, as they will come at us with confidence.

“We learnt plenty from last week’s defeat at Distington, who were a very good team, and we have prepared fully for this game.

“Places are up for grabs for when we play Distington in the Cumbria Cup final next month, so our lads know they have to work hard tonight.”

All rugby league followers, along with all Island staff, wish BARLA Great Britain under-18s international winger Ryan Clegg a speedy recovery following heart surgery. I am informed he is doing very well.

MARYPORT v ULVERSTON

JAMES Armsitead, Che Smith, Keiron Chadwick and Matt Dean are back for Ulverston’s Cumbria League trip to the west of the county.

But Josh Rankin,Liam Saunders, Tom Spedding and Jamie Sandham miss out.

Coach Phil Atkinson said: “We go up there quietly confident following our 30-16 win last week over Hensingham. We will have to step up our game a little bit more.

“We played really well for the first hour and our defence was very strong, apart from a couple of hiccups.

“Overall, I was quite satisfied. I am expecting a tight game as they are a similar side to us, but if we defend as we are capable of, then we should get the win.”

WATH BROW HORNETS v WALNEY CENTRAL

WALNEY Central have some big holes in their squad for their Cumbria League match at Wath Brow.

Coach Shaun Morrow said: “Me and you had better get our boots on.”

Morrow is struggling to take enough players to the in-form Brow. At least 12 re unavailable for the trip and he was still uncertain as to how many players will be on the bus.

Coming in after good performances for the A-team recently are Steve Bell, Luke Bailey and Josh Atkinson, along with seasoned campaigner James Finch.

Morrow said: “I am really struggling with players out for whatever reason, but the lads I bring in have been playing well for the A-team.

“It’s going to be a hard game. The Brow are going well this season and are in fourth place, so we have a game on our hands.”

Former Whitehaven scrum half and BARLA vice-president Jackie Reid MBE has died at the age of 86.

Jackie a stalwart of the amateur game, had been involved with BARLA for more than half-a-century and was a former Great Britain amateur team manager.

He was heavily involved in Barla’s early days, along with locals Ray Oldfield (former chairman), John Winward, Ivor Kelland, Terry Fitzsimmons and Bill Proctor.