A look at the Match of the Day as the Holmen Iggesund Cumberland Amateur Rugby League gets underway this weekend.
League champions Distington host the re-emerging Maryport on Saturday in what will be a revealing game for both teams.
Over recent years Distington have not been used to losing many games and they’ve lost three in a row in preparation for the League campaign.
Orrell St James was always going to be tough in the Challenge Cup; they went out to Wath Brow A in the E.B Lamb Amateur Cup and also lost a friendly against Millom.
Coach Aiden Worthington said: “We had some really tough games but the lads are really looking forward to getting the League underway against Maryport.
“I have named the strongest side possible, we have no injuries, so I was able to name it early.
“Although we have lost some experienced players we have a group of eight to ten young players in the 16-17 age bracket who I intend to blood this season. It’s not always possible but I would like to include two or three every game.
“We are looking ahead and hopefully in five years time we will be ready to apply for the National Conference again. We were probably ready as a team in 2016/17 but the infrastructure wasn’t in place at the club.
“The youth coaches are working really hard and we have age group sides from under-six to under-14, and we are trying to bring lads on like Wath Brow and Kells do. That’s why we hope to be in a position to apply to join the NCL.”
Maryport have been in the shadows for a number of years – indeed didn’t even play for a while – but they are back under a new coaching team and looking to make significant progress this season.
Head coach Mark Foster said: “Things have been going really well in pre-season with good numbers at training and our E. B. Lamb Amateur Cup win at Kells A was a splendid team effort.
“I have tried to pick as close as possible to that line-up for the game with Distington but we do have an injury which has affected selection.
“To play against the champions first time up in the League will give us an opportunity to see where we are as a team.
“We have a lot of respect for the Distington club for what they’ve achieved and Aiden Worthington has done a great job in continuing the excellent work carried out for a few years by Carl Hewer.”
There should have been another game tomorrow but Seaton Rangers A have been unable to raise a team to play at Glasson Rangers.
Of course the League officially starts tonight with three fixtures – Ellenborough Rangers A v Egremont Rangers A; Hensingham A v Lowca; Wath Brow Hornets A v Kells A.
