Kells will pay tribute to local legend Arnold Walker with a minute’s applause ahead of their home game this weekend.
The seniors have a National Conference Division One game against Saddleworth Rangers.
Walker, who died on Thursday, started as the Kells’ mascot before going through the age group sides to reach the senior team and turning pro with Workington Town at 19.
Coach Peter Smith said: “He was an absolute legend of a guy, not just at Kells but all over. In his day he would take on people who were twice his size and was the best in the world.”
Kells go into the game on the back of a 19-12 defeat at Hull Dockers last week, a loss which saw the Humbersiders leapfrog them to go top.
“It was a hard game but I thought we battled really well. We will have a couple back this week and I’m looking to respond from that defeat against Saddleworth,” said Smith.
The Dockers included recent recruit Sonny Esselmont, a former Hull KR forward and Louis Sheriff, another ex-pro who also started his career with Hull KR.
Saddleworth are lying third bottom at the moment and scored their second win last Saturday when they beat Milford, currently holding up everyone else without a point.
There’s a big match in prospect for Wath Brow Hornets tomorrow when they make the long trek to Humberside to take on West Hull.
Their hosts lead the way in the Premier Division by a point from Lock Lane, with Hornets in fifth four points behind.
After a stirring first half effort at Hunslet Club Parkside (the only club to beat West Hull so far) Wath Brow led at the break last week, but seemed to get the rough end of some decisions in the second-half and lost 18-10.
Egremont Rangers are in danger of being sucked into a relegation battle and currently lying second bottom they travel to mid-table Siddal tomorrow.
In Division Two Barrow Island share the lead with Crosfields, although they have played a game more than their Warrington rivals.
There’s an interesting home clash in prospect for the Islanders tomorrow as they entertain Clock Face Miners who are two places below them and three points worse off.
Seaton Rangers are still trying to work out how they lost at Millom last week but will put that behind them with a very attractive home game in prospect.
The Rangers have a date with Shaw Cross Sharks who are currently second but just two points better off than the Cumbrians who also have a game in hand.
Millom will clearly be strengthened in the weeks ahead by the return to the club of former professionals like Hanley Dawson, Lee Postlethwaite and Ethan Kelly.
They travel to Bentley who sit mid-table and are fresh from a good 36-28 win at Drighlington last week.
For Hensingham it’s a question of getting last week’s 96-0 mauling at runaway leaders East Leeds out of their system as quickly as possible. They visit Drighlington who have won four and lost four so far.
