Last updated at 14:57, Friday, 16 December 2011

ONCE again, Walney Central put their 100 per cent record on the line in North West Counties Division One tomorrow.

RETURNING HEROES: Ben Garner (above) and Perry Singleton (below) are back for Barrow Island

They face Haydock at Central Drive, while Barrow Island face a tough home game against Clock Face.

Dalton, Ulverston and Hindpool are all travelling, but Roose Pioneers’ trip to Blackpool Scorpions has already been called off.

BARROW ISLAND v CLOCK FACE

Rating Lane, 2pm

BARROW Island’s young Great Britain stars are in line to play their first game for the club in several weeks when second-in-the-table Clock Face visit Rating Lane in the North West Counties Premier Division.

The trio – Perry Singleton, Ben Garner and Nial Miller – are back after a long spell in the Lions camp as Island aim to end the year on a high with victory against a St Helens side aiming for the double.

Paul Wilcock is also back to boost what is not the biggest set of forwards in the game, while Carl McBain is unavailable and Steve Clarke is a doubt as his wife is due to give birth to their first child.

Big prop Jack Sutherand is also out with work commitments.

Club official John Jefferson said: “We are a bit light up front, but welcome back our Great Britain lads. We are still unable to finalise the 17 players.

“It would be nice to get a win. We lost at their place but we took a lot of young lads who put up a creditable show, so we look forward to the game and a win.”

The St Helens side are second in the Premier Division, a point behind leaders Pilkington Recs, while Island are fifth.

WALNEY CENTRAL v HAYDOCK

Central Drive, 2pm

LIAM Finch plays his last game for Cents before his return to Craven Park, with the best wishes of coach Jan Elliott.

Elliott said: “Liam has been a good asset for us this season and we wish him all the best on his return to Barrow.

“Otherwise we will being fielding much the same side that beat Pioneers two weeks ago.

“We won comfortably at their place, playing good rugby on a hot day, but with the weather the way it is, you can’t play expansive rugby now.”

Cents can go top of Division One with a win but only if joint-leaders – on points difference – Rylands, go down at home to bottom-of-the-pile Albert Park.

WIDNES ST MARIE’S A v DALTON

DALTON are looking to complete the double over the Marie’s second string, but travel without Ryan Birkby, Scott Worsley and Matt Bolton, who are chasing the snow in hope of getting in some skiing.

Also out is Nick Beach, who is having a shoulder operation.

Assistant coach Owen Richards said: “We are down in numbers and will take stock tonight as to who is or is not available to travel. We know they are a big physical side who like to mix it, but we will be concentrating on how we play.”

IRLAM HORNETS v ULVERSTON

ULVERSTON could lose second place in Division Two to the Rochdale outfit, who would leapfrog them with a win.

And it will be a big ask for the Dragley Beck side, who are minus Che Smith, Gareth Knowles, Adam Mills, Duane Bell, Eddie Aitken and the Allen brothers, Andy and Phil.

Coach Gareth Jones said: “We are eager to avenge a defeat at home to Irlam, but we are without several top liners.

“We will field a team that will compete and hopefully pick up a win. We will draft in some younger lads and they won’t let us down.”

HALTON FARNWORTH v HINDPOOL

HINDPOOL’S good form will be put to the test at Farnworth, as they are without skipper Phil Cubiss (calf) and Matt Preston (ankle). Doubtful are Paul Rickleton and Lee Boyd.

Cubiss said “We just want to finish the first half of the season with a win. We drew with them at home when we had a poor spell, but now we are playing good rugby.”

BLACKPOOL SCORPIONS v ROOSE PIONEERS

PIONEERS’S scheduled game at the seaside is off due to the Scorpions’ goal posts being blown down in heavy winds.

l National Conference sides Askam and Millom will both be in the preliminary round draw for the Challenge Cup on Monday.

A total of 44 teams from across the amateur spectrum will be involved in the draw, which will take place at Leigh Miners Rangers RL. The first round draw will be completed at the same time. Barrow Raiders enter the competition at the third round stage.

First published at 13:19, Friday, 16 December 2011
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk