Kells and Wath Brow are both on the road this weekend with contrasting opposition in the NCL Premier Division.
West Hull, traditionally one of the strongest sides in the competition, await Kells while the Hornets visit Wigan St Patrick’s.
It’s been a strange season for the Humbersiders who are in fourth place with five wins and two defeats – but the losses have been at home against sides in the bottom six.
They were narrowly beaten by Wigan St Patricks, who are next to bottom, and on Saturday went down 20-17 to York Acorn who are sixth bottom.
Kells had no problem with Wigan St Patrick’s at the weekend, putting in a good shift to win 32-0, but have a good few missing for the long trek to Humberside.
Wath Brow will have been encouraged that St Pat’s lost decisively at Kells as they were fairly comfortable winners the week before against their West Cumbrian rivals.
But Hornets do have to pick themselves up from a home defeat last week against the surprise team of the season in Rochdale Mayfield who won 26-24 to go third in the table.
Hornets have dropped five points in their first eight games and trail 100 per cent leaders Hunslet Amateurs by those five points. But the Premier Division’s big game tomorrow sees Mayfield host Hunslet in a clash which will give a major clue as to how strong the Rochdale challenge is this year.
In Division One Egremont Rangers are in a more healthy position than they were a week ago after a clear-cut 58-6 win at Ince Rose Bridge.
A win at struggling Featherstone Lions (only one win so far) tomorrow would put them in play-off contention approaching the halfway stage of the season.
It shows how tight the League is, though, with third placed Skirlaugh only two points better off than fourth bottom Ince Rose Bridge and five teams in between them, including Egremont.
Barrow Island have slumped to fourth bottom in Division Two so tomorrow’s trip to Milford, who are four points and two places below them, presents the perfect opportunity to kick-start their season.
They were well beaten 44-6 at League leaders Waterhead Warriors last week and have now only won three of their first eight matches.
Three of Cumbris’s four Division Three sides all have home fixtures tomorrow with Millom the only exception as they travel to lowly Bentley. They can’t take anything for granted though as they lost 28-22 last week at another of the strugglers, Eastmoor Dragons.
Ellenborough Rangers are the county’s best-placed side in fourth place who narrowly went down 24-22 at Leigh East last week. They have a good opportunity to get back into the winning groove when they entertain Drighlington.
Hensingham are next to bottom in need of a boost and they would certainly get that if they could get a third win under their belts. They have an attractive home game with leaders Oldham St Anne’s to lift and motivate them.
The same can be said of bottom side Seaton Rangers whose injury problems have been well documented. They are at home against Leigh East whose win over Elbra last week moved them into second place.
