SPORTING a special pink kit in the name of charity, Askam have a chance to push their bid for promotion from National Conference Division Two when they entertain fellow challengers Bradford Dudley Hill at Fallowfield Park.

Millom’s battle is at the other end of the table for their trip into Yorkshire, where two points are crucial if they are to avoid the drop.

For the other local sides in action there is little more than pride at stake, with Barrow Island travelling to Gateshead and Ulverston rounding off their Cumbria League season with a trip to unbeaten Hensingham.

Glasson Rangers are unable to raise a team to make the trip down to Walney.

Askam v Bradford Dudley Hill

(Fallowfield Park 2.30pm)

THERE is no let-up for Askam. They follow their successful defence of the Barton Townley Cup with another crucial game – this time against opponents also hunting a promotion spot.

Dudley Hill are three points ahead of Askam, who have a game in hand so a win is vital if the home side are to put pressure on the National Conference Division Two top three.

“They are a big, physical team but if we can match them it is definitely a game we can win. We just have to carry on doing what we have been and we know we have players who can score from all over the field,” said coach Mike Wilson.

“The next six weeks are important and we are looking for a big finish.”

Luckless Ben Lewney has suffered a recurrence of a knee injury and misses out while Jack Cairns is on holiday.

Other than those two changes Askam will be counting on the squad that defeated Barrow Island to lift the Barton Townley 10 days ago.

Askam will be “in the pink” tomorrow, with the players discarding their regular green and gold jerseys for a pink kit all in a good cause – to help raise funds for St Mary’s Hospice and Furness General Hospital’s Oncology Unit.

The Ladies’ Day at the club’s Fallowfield Park gets under way at 11am, with a coffee morning followed by tombola and other attractions.

The club will be hoping for better weather than they had for last year’s event, which had to be moved indoors, but they will be happy with a similar result.

“The day managed to raise about £2,000 for each of the charities,” explained club official Mike Wilson.

The special strip has been sponsored by BVS, LPS, RF Miller Accountants, Harry Barker Properties, Coco Hair and Beauty, Mr T’s Garage, Cool Runnings and JD Joinery.

A bouncy castle, donkey rides, trampoline, sweet and cake stalls, bottle tombola, grand raffle and barbeque are among the activities available throughout the day.

The specially designed playing kit will be auctioned off after match and there will be evening entertainment provided by vocalist Sally Thompson.

Gateshead Storm v Barrow Island

INJURY-HIT Island head for the North East with their sights already focused on a promotion push next season.

Last week’s defeat at Clock Face ended any hopes of making a serious challenge for a National Conference Division Three play-off spot and added to the mounting injury list.

Joint-coach Joe Elliott could reel off a list of absentees from tomorrow’s trip, and among those missing will be Blain Marwood, who is out for the rest of the season, although he is hoping that Carl McBain and Ian Irvine will be ready to face the Storm.

“Having Joe Spencely back after he has served his two-match suspension is a big plus for us, though we have to say that the play-offs look to be out of the question,” he said.

“But we have not been overrun by anybody and nobody has frightened us.

“It is only small things that have made the difference and we know we have work to do in the close season.

“Anywhere out of the top two or three next season would be a disappointment.”

With Gateshead handily placed for promotion via the play-offs, Barrow Island will do well to end their losing run.

Drighlington v Millom

MILLOM’S chances of avoiding the drop into National Conference Division Three could go down the final day of the season.

With just four games remaining, the Woollybacks are three points adrift of the safety zone, and with tomorrow’s trip to Yorkshire pitting them against one of the two teams below them, it is a chance they cannot afford to miss.

Both sides will be hoping to recover from heavy defeats last weekend. Millom ran in four tries, including a brace from coach Tom Sibley, but they were overwhelmed in the first half and trailed to leaders Oulton Raiders 42-0 at the break, eventually losing 60-22.

Drighlington, meanwhile, lost 40-0 at Bradford Dudley Hill, so tomorrow’s game is vital to both clubs’ survival hopes.

For Millom, much stiffer opposition in the form of Thornhill Trojans and Wigan St Judes will follow, before they round off their season against already relegated Salford City Roosters.

Hensingham v Ulverston

JOEL Smith makes his farewell appearance for Ulverston before returning to Australia after a two-year spell with the club, but Connor Saunders misses out because of a “modelling shoot” in Manchester.

The curtain comes down on a disappointing Cumbria League season for Phil Atkinson’s men who have been dogged by a lengthy injury list for most of the year and tomorrow is no exception.

In addition to Saunders, they will be without Che Smith, Mark Wilkinson, Liam High and Sam Williams, but their coach was philosophical about the situation.

“I suppose almost every club suffers from injuries but we will just go up and give it our best,” he said.

“The lads will want to make it a good farewell for Joel.”