ANTHONY Atherton is looking forward to a return to his old stamping ground when Scotland Under-19s take on their Cumbrian counterparts at Craven Park tomorrow (kick-off 11.30am).

The head coach for the Bravehearts' age-group team was previously employed by the RFL as the county's development officer before becoming national talent and participation manager, working closely with clubs in the Barrow area and on the west coast.

Atherton is planning to meet up with some familiar faces ahead of the game and is relishing the prospect of returning to the area for the encounter.

“I had many a trip up and down the coast road with Terry Barker and John Jefferson, and calling in for a pint in Gosforth on the way home,” recalled Atherton. “I've got some very fond memories of working with some great people doing great work in the game.

“It's going to be a great game and I'm really looking forward to it. I'm very lucky with the job I've got in rugby league to have worked in and around Cumbria very closely.

“I've got a lot of good friends in Barrow and I'm hoping to drop in on one or two, maybe for a pint before the game.”

Although the senior side is comprised mostly of heritage players from the UK's professional competitions or playing in Australia, Scotland's under-19s feature a large contingent of players based north of the border.

Scotland Rugby League chairman Keith Hogg and performance group chairman Bob Baxendale have spent countless hours contacting players and checking on their eligibility, while senior head coach Steve McCormack is kept updated on how the players are progressing.

Atherton is impressed with the progress the players are making, and the team go into this encounter with an eye on next month's match against England Lions in Leigh and the 2018 Under-19 European Championship in Serbia.

“We do have a few players who are heritage players," said Atherton. “About half-a-dozen are based in and around the north-west and a couple in London.

“They've all been travelling up for the training sessions and everything is going well. It's a very good programme and squad the international management team have put together, and it's good to see the lads progressing.”

Scotland's matches so far this year have seen them beat Northern Ireland 80-6 last month and then overcome London Skolars' youth team 32-10 on September 2.

Atherton was pleased with the display against Skolars under-19s, and expects another tough examination against Cumbria.

“London Skolars was a good test and we got to see the work the players had put in coming to fruition,” said Atherton. “Obviously, we've got to concentrate on a few more things and fine-tune a couple of things.

“We'll try a few squad members in a few different positions and we're really looking forward to the test the Cumbria under-19s are going to give us at Barrow.”

Cumbria, who drew 21-21 with the Scots at Maryport last year, have named an initial squad which was due to be whittled down to 25 by coaches Grahame Dale and Jonty Moore following last night's training session at Millom.

The Barrow and District League thanked Barrow Raiders for use of Craven Park and Hindpool Tigers for the use of their facilities.

Cumbria under-19s provisional squad: Brandon Corrie, Jake Carter, Jake Stockdale, Declan Rodgers, Aiden Wright, Danny Wright, Mathew Brown, Elliott Campbell (all Barrow Island), Curtis Teare, Sam Curwen, Jake Pearce, Joe Power, Andrew Bulman, James McCartney, Dane Richardson (all Wath Brow), Luke Harrison, Frazer McNee, Pat Bennett, Jack Thompson (all Egremont), Tyler Batty, Ioan Hayes, Eddie Tyson (all Dalton), Adam Ford (Walney Central), Rhys Burr, Zac Olstrum (both Ellenborough), Finn Barwise, Nick Maudling (both Hensingham), Jonny Hutton (Ulverston).

Scotland under-19s provisional squad: Callum Kennedy, Conor McDonagh, Clayton Woods, Sean McKervial, Finlay Ramsay, Niall Sydney, Matt Hogg, Connor Meikle, Patrick Noutch, Calum Weir, Gregor Mitchell, Jordan Gray, Sandy Rae, Elliot Scanlon Wells, Jack Stevenson, Kristian Thompson, Rory Spence.

Hindpool Tigers A defeated Askam A 38-30 in the final of the CJS Cars Barrow and District KO Cup at Craven Park. Full report in Monday's Evening Mail.