It’s West Cumbria against Humberside this weekend in the latest round of National Conference Premier Division fixtures.
Kells have an attractive home game with one of the Conference’s most famous clubs, West Hull, while Wath Brow make the long trip to play Hull Dockers.
The two West Cumbrian rivals met last week at Wath Brow with the Hornets eventually coming out on top 16-2. But Kells had led from a fourth minute penalty to the 57th minute before the home side came through to win with three tries, two of them converted.
That was a particularly good effort by Kells as they had seven regulars unavailable and coach Peter Smith expects to have the majority of them back on Saturday.
“It is what it is with regard to summer rugby. You can’t fight it but just have to accept things have changed with regard to players availabilities,” said a philosophical Smith.
Wath Brow remain second as the race for the League Leaders Shield seems to rest between the current top four – and two of them meet on Saturday. Leaders Hunslet Amateurs host surprise team Rochdale Mayfield, who just appear to have been feeling the strain in recent weeks.
Hull Dockers are in a fight to stay in the top flight after last season’s promotion and last week were just pipped 20-19 at Lock Lane. They are desperate for points so could be dangerous hosts for the Hornets, who will bank on them having the extra class to see them through and bring back the points.
Although the Division One title seems destined for West Bowling, west Cumbrians Egremont Rangers are leading the current chase, albeit eight points behind.
On Saturday Egremont will expect to step up their pursuit of second spot when they host Clock Face Miners who were involved in a dramatic 30-30 draw at home to Oulton Raiders last week. A last gasp penalty earned the Miners a point.
Barrow Island are on the fringes of the play-offs in Division Two and can’t afford to drop too many more points. They have it all to do on Saturday when they host leaders Waterhead Warriors who have only lost once in 12 games so far.
They come north in good frae of mind, too, after putting ninety points on Myton Warriors last week.
The race for the Third Division title is wide open with Ellenborough Rangers among three clubs sharing the lead on 20 points. Millom will consider they are still in it as they trail them by four points but do have a game in hand of the top two and two on third-placed Leigh East.
Elbra won’t want to slip up tomorrow at Eastmoor Dragons after they downed Leigh East 20-18 in a cracker to move above them.
Millom travel to West Cumbria to take on Hensingham, who remain next to bottom while Seaton, who did manage their second win of the season a fortnight ago, visit Leigh East.
