Last updated at 14:06, Friday, 18 December 2009

AMATEUR RL

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DALTON look to upset North West Counties high-fliers Woolston Rovers, while also in Division Three, local rivals Ulverston and Hindpool Tigers lock horns at Dragley Beck.

Elsewhere, in-form Roose Pioneers look to make further progress up the NWC second division ladder at home to struggling Wigan St Pats, while in the National Conference, Millom are on the road at West Bowling.

Barrow Island and Walney Cents have no fixture, Island having beaten Cents 37-0 in their midweek Barton Townley Cup semi-final at Fallowfield Park, Askam, and there are no Barrow and District League games.

DALTON v WOOLSTON

Kelland Park, 2pm

DALTON face their toughest hurdle of the season so far as they go into the Christmas break.

They take on former Conference big boys Woolston who are current leaders of the North West Counties third division table.

The Warrington side lost their first game of the campaign last weekend so they'll be looking to get back on track.

Dalton’s assistant coach Owen Richards said: “This is a big game for our lads. We ran them close at their place, losing out to a late try, and the lads are really up for this one.

“We don't fear them and if we play attacking rugby then we can win. They come on the back of their first defeat and it should be a cracking game.

“We are confident and if we are to secure a promotion place at the end of the season, then it is important that we win our home games.

“Last week at Saddleworth we had several players out and drafted in teenagers like Jack Flynn, Daniel Richards and Ryan Baines and all did themselves proud (in a 24-12 Dalton victory).

“However, we may have to rest them this week Woolston are a big side and have a lot of experienced players"

Back in the running for places in the squad are Andy Clough, Paul Armstrong, Darren Pearson, Ryan Birkby and Owen Wilkinson.

ULVERSTON v HINDPOOL

Dragley Beck, 2pm

ULVERSTON coach Alan Moses is anticipating a tough North West Counties Division Three game against local rivals Hindpool.

“They must have played really well against Moss Bank last week so it will be a hard game as all local derby games are,” he said.

Moses will have old heads Phil Atkinson and Martin John on the park, along with Paul Clough and Matt Law, but missing out are Phil Allen and ‘Dinger’ Bell. The latter broke his cheekbone two weeks ago, helping out Dalton A.

Hindpool will be looking to build upon last week’s good performance in defeat against Moss Bank. Their in-form player is Liam Rooke.

All at the Ulverston club would like to wish Nigel Atkinson a speedy recovery following a kidney transplant. He is the club’s mini rugby section chairman.

ROOSE PIONEERS v WIGAN ST PATS

Redwaters, 2pm

PIONEERS look to increase their winning run when they take on St Pats, and though the Wiganers are bottom of the pile, Roose coach Jim Perry is being cautious. He said ahead of the NWC Division One clash: “We are going well at the moment and should continue the good work of late.

“However they may be bottom but their first team are without a fixture so they could draft one or two players in."

Perry will take a look at injured players James Gordon (facial injury) and Lee Edmondson (leg injury) before finalising his squad. But into the reckoning come Andy McClure and Joel Williams.

WEST BOWLING v MILLOM

MILLOM face another tough encounter on the road in a National Conference first division game, which coach Steve Woodburn is looking to pick up two points from.

He said: “If want to be in the top four going into the break it is a game we must win, if we lose and other results go against us then we could slip to sixth.

“We have worked hard in training this week as to how to cope with big sides that come down the middle of the park.”

Woodburn goes into the game without Midge Dixon who has work commitments and could also be without points machine Paul Evans, who is looking to change his shift at work.

First published at 12:56, Friday, 18 December 2009
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk