MILLOM hope their first win of the season will be just the start of better things to come, while Barrow Island plan to put last weekend’s late collapse behind them tomorrow.

The rest of the South Cumbrian clubs are on the road, with Askam travelling into Yorkshire in the other National Conference League game.

The two remaining local sides in the Cumbria League – Walney and Ulverston – travel north to face Seaton and Ellenborough respectively.

The late withdrawal of Roose Pioneers, following on the heels on Maryport and Barrow Island’s switch to the NCL, has left Cumbria League officials with a dilemma.

With only eight teams still in the competition – just two from south of the county – can they keep clubs happy with only 14 fixtures?

BARROW ISLAND v CLOCK FACE MINERS

(Rating Lane, 2.30pm)

MATT Sayle and Ryan Clegg, who missed out on Barrow Island’s narrow NCL Division Three defeat at Rylands Sharks, will face late fitness tests ahead of the game against their St Helens visitors.

Three tries in the last seven minutes soured Island’s happy return to the Conference last weekend, so they will be hoping to get back to winning ways when they entertain fellow newcomers Clock Face Miners.

After holding a 14-0 lead at Rylands, they eventually lost 20-18, but they get the chance to put that behind them on home turf.

Like Barrow Island, Miners were denied victory by some late action at Dewsbury Celtic, who snatched a 12-12 draw.

MILLOM v LEIGH EAST

(Devonshire Road, 2.30pm)

MILLOM coach Tom Sibley is looking to build on last week’s first win of the season when they entertain Division Two’s bottom club Leigh East.

“It was great to get that win behind us, but there is still room for improvement,” he said after the 14-4 victory over Salford City Roosters.

“The defence was excellent, letting in only one try. Leigh East are struggling, having lost their first three, so if we can repeat the defensive performance we will be fine.”

Injuries, including a dislocated thumb for Tom Newbiggin, and doubts over Dom O’Brien and Luke Brady – plus Dane Kelly’s upcoming wedding – force Millom to make changes.

“Fortunately we have Joe Shaw, Owen Myers and Jonathan Hodgson returning to the side,” said Sibley.

OULTON RAIDERS v ASKAM

ASKAM, looking to go one better than last season when they were pipped for NCL Division Two promotion, are itching to get back into action after being rained off last week.

Coach Mike Wilson has the luxury of naming the same squad for a fourth successive game for the Sandrats’ first ever trip to Wakefield club Oulton.

“There are some good teams in our league this year, and there could be five or six pushing for a promotion place, but if we can show consistency we will do fine,” he said. “We have been able to keep together a strong squad.”

Oulton picked up their first win of the season at the weekend, winning 34-30 at Drighlington.

SEATON RANGERS v WALNEY CENTRAL

CUMBRIA Cup finalists Cents open their Cumbria League programme with a trip up the coast, and coach Jan Elliott is expecting a tougher test than when the two sides met at Central Drive in a cup-tie three weeks ago.

“They will be a different side on their own ground – they always are,” he said. But despite being forced to make a few changes he is confident that Cents can get their bid to regain the league crown off to a winning start.

Elliott was delighted with the 62-8 win over Glasson Rangers that took them into the county final.

“Take nothing away from Glasson, we played really well and I was more than pleased with the performance. But we can put the cup to bed for a while and concentrate on the league.”

Work commitments rule out Liam Finch and Jamie Morrow for the trip to Seaton, but James Finch makes his return to the side.

ELLENBOROUGH RANGERS v ULVERSTON

JOHNNY Hutton, who bagged a hat-trick of tries in Ulverston’s Cumbria Cup-semi-final defeat by Hensingham, is one of 13 players missing from Phil Atkinson’s plans for the first Cumbria League game of the season at Ellenborough.

“Seven of the side who played in the cup tie are unavailable, and there are six other fringe players out of the reckoning,” said the Ulverston coach, though he insists there is no player shortage at the club. “We will still be able to field two teams this weekend.”

Rowan Smedley, Mark Williamson and Che Smith are in line to return to the side for this league opener.

Atkinson will be hoping for an improvement on the cup tie.

“We played with a lot of heart, but we were our own worst enemy at times. We were 14-0 down in no time at all and we gave ourselves too much to do.”

All clubs are asked to phone results and match details to Peter Wilson on 01229 471316 for the next four weeks.