There’s no doubt about the match of the day in the National Conference League on Saturday – it’s in West Cumbria.
Wath Brow Hornets, currently second in the table, entertain league leaders Hunslet Amateurs who suffered their first defeat of the season last Saturday, 10-6 at Rochdale Mayfield.
To add more spice to the occasion Wath Brow themselves lost to Mayfield at home two weeks ago as the in-form Rochdale side have emerged as the surprise team of the season.
Wath Brow trail Hunslet by three points while Rochdale are a point behind the Cumbrians but with two games in hand of both the sides above them. Mayfield will expect to win on Saturday when they visit bottom side Leigh Miners Rangers.
Last week Wath Brow had a commanding 60-6 win at Wigan St Patrick’s in a triumph that saw winger Jay Weatherill help himself to six tries. Quite a sportsman, Weatherill was one of the leading goal scorers in the North West Counties League 12 months ago for Cleator Moor Celtic.
Spare a though for Kells who must be cursing the fixtures compiler as they prepare for a second successive trip to Humberside.
They travel to play Hull Dockers a week after losing 38-16 to West Hull when they went with a good number of regulars unavailable.
Last season, of course, Kells pipped the Dockers to the Division One title and are currently four points better off than their hosts in the top flight. The Dockers went down 36-12 at Siddal last week.
It’s a big week for Egremont Rangers in Division One as they stage their own Match of the Day at Gillfoot against Skirlaugh.
Two successive away wins have pushed the Mont up to fifth in the table and a home win on Saturday will see them move above Skirlaugh who are currently two points and two places in front of them.
Egremont had made a slow start to the campaign losing four of their first seven games but appear to have found their form and will be encouraged that they can force their ay into the promotion picture.
Barrow Island edged home 23-22 at Milford last week in what was a much-needed win in League Two and they have an interesting clash ahead on Saturday at home to Shaw Cross Sharks.
The Dewsbury side are just a point better off than the Islanders but that equates to three places in the table so a home win would see them making significant progress up the League ladder.
There’s a Cumbrian derby in Division Three with Millom (4th) hosting Hensingham (9th) and six points between them.
Millom had a good win 34-18 at Bentley last week but Hensingham lost 42-12 to leaders Oldham St Anne’s after holding them to 14-6 at half-time.
It’s top versus bottom when Oldham St Anne’s entertain Seaton Rangers who are desperately in need of a change of fortune.
Ellenborough Rangers are currently third, with a better points differential than Millom, and they entertain Beverley who are two points and two places lower in the table.
