Barrow Island and Roose Pioneers meet in a Cumbria League derby at Rating Lane.
Walney hope to return to winning ways at Maryport, while a victory for Ulverston at Ellenborough would take them above their opponents in the Cumbria League. However, both sides are suffering from the problem facing many clubs – player unavailability.
ASKAM v HUNSLET CLUB PARKSIDE
(Fallowfield Park, 2.30pm)
The rewards for the winners could not be higher.
Askam coach Mike Wilson makes no secret of the fact that the title is still the target.
He said: “We still have ambitions to win the league, but this is a big game for both teams and we must win to keep our hopes alive.
“A win would move us to just three points behind them. They are a big, strong side and have beaten Premier Division opposition this season. We lost 18-16 at their place to a touchline conversion, but we fancy ourselves against anybody at the moment.
“We had a really good win last week and we will be relying on the core of the team that won at Leigh East.”
Gary Bolton is out with a broken nose and Tom Butler has an ankle injury, but Dan Sayle will return.
Although a victory would put more pressure on the leaders, a second-placed finish would give Askam the opportunity of two home games in the promotion play-offs.
A Hunslet win would take the Leeds side one point away from the title.
BARROW ISLAND v ROOSE PIONEERS
(Rating Lane, 2.30pm)
Barrow Island are strong candidates to claim the runners-up spot and should be too strong for Pioneers, but the bottom club have shown a big improvement in recent weeks and will be keen to give their neighbours a run for their money.
Island, undefeated since their 23-6 defeat by unbeaten Distington in the Cumbria Cup final, are in the sort of form that makes them clear favourites and look the best bet for runners-up spot behind the runaway leaders, whom they face next week at Rating Lane.
MARYPORT v WALNEY CENTRAL
“There are seven on the injured list, six on holiday and three working, which means we are really struggling to get a team on the coach,” he said.
Among the absentees are key players Liam Finch and Jamie Morrow, who are both working, Mike Elliott and Mark McKinley (injured) and Carl McBain and Mike Whitehead (holiday).
The absentees could mean an opportunity for some of Cents’ promising young second-teamers, who have made a mark in the Barrow and District League, where they finished third.
Walney’s hopes of a top-two finish were seriously dented by Saturday’s defeat by leaders Distington, but they are still strong candidates to finish in a top-four play-off place.
ELLENBOROUGH RANGERS v ULVERSTON
“Ellenborough are a big physical side who like to mix it up a bit, but we will have to cope with that and try to play some rugby by running them about,” he said ahead of the Cumbria League game.
Michael Reeks and Che Smith are injured and Tom Spedding, Liam High and Matty Miller are also unavailable.
The casualty list opens the door for youngster Rowan Smedley to take his chance and Jamie Sandham comes in after a lengthy lay-off because of work commitments.
When the two sides met earlier in the season, a late drop-goal gave Ulverston a 19-18 victory.
NORMANTON KNIGHTS v MILLOM
“It was his first game back for some time and he has been in Leeds hospital for an operation. We’d all like to wish him a speedy recovery,” said coach Tom Sibley.
The Woollybacks, who have been hit by injuries, work commitments and holidays, return to Yorkshire tomorrow, where they will face another stiff test against Normanton Knights. But Sibley is hoping to have several players back, including Chris Warren, John Hodgson, Tim Newbiggin, Owen Myers and Niall Harris, although they will be without Paul Carter.
“We did all right last week and were in the game until late on,” said Sibley. “If we can repeat the spirit we showed, then we will be able to compete.”
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