Cockermouth Titans are gearing up to play their first game of the new Holmen Iggesund Cumberland Amateur Rugby League season tomorrow.
The Titans haven’t played since the end of January when they lost 64-6 to Waterhead Warriors in the BNFL National Cup.
Whilst the Warriors have gone on to reach the final of the competition, Cockermouth have had to wait for their first game in the local league.
Assistant coach Dave Whitworth said: “I know we will be a bit rusty but everyone is looking forward to getting started.
“We have had some good training sessions and Glasson Rangers have been involved with us, which has made it better.
“We won’t be at full strength because we still have players involved in rugby union, including four at Aspatria who are still in line for promotion.
“Our first game is at home to Wath Brow A and I suppose it will depend on how strong a team the Hornets bring. They obviously have a good squad at the club to cover their two senior teams.”
Unfortunately, Cockermouth have had to call off tonight’s First Division game in the Premier Division against Hensingham A.
The Titans were hoping to be able to put out two sides, with no double-up, but with players still unavailable through rugby union commitments that haven’t been possible.
Whitworth said: “Last season it was hard with 21 or more players turning up each week and having to tell some of them there was no game for them.
“That’s when you can lose players so we decided to enter a second team in a First Division which is going to be just for A teams.
“We have more players this time and will have more when the rugby union season finishes.
“Unfortunately Aspatria have a big game tomorrow and Cockermouth have an A team game tonight so it has affected us.
“We apologised to Hensingham but understood and were fine about it.”
The Friday night A team games will kick off at 6pm and the start times will progressively get later as the nights get lighter.
However, tonight’s A team clash between Seaton and Ellenborough is being switched to Elbra to play under the lights with a 6.45pm start.
The third game tonight is a Copeland derby between Egremont A and Kells A.
As well as the Cockermouth v Wath Brow A game tomorrow, there are three other matches in the Premier Division.
Distington look intent on regaining the title that went to Ellenborough Rangers last season.
They have former Kells ace Tyrone Dalton with them this season. He was unable to commit to travelling with Kells in the National Conference so switched his allegiance to Distington.
Tomorrow Distington host Maryport while Ellenborough travel to Lowca.
The fourth game sees Glasson Rangers entertain Aspatria Hornets.
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