Distington start life in the National Conference League tomorrow with a local derby.
They make a trip just up the road to play Hensingham for their debut in the Third Division.
Coach Aiden Worthington is looking for a positive result, expressing delight in how pre-season training has gone.
“We were beaten by Millom by just a couple of points; beat Lowca 48-10 and last week we beat a strong Dewsbury Celtic side 18-4.
“Our outside backs really seemed to be hitting form in this game.
“I’ve been able to look at a lot of young lads in pre-season and they have helped provide us with a really strong squad.
“We have a second team playing in the Cumberland ARL but I fully intend to blood a lot of them in the Conference.
“It will be tough at Hensingham as they have a really big pack of forwards but I’m looking for us to get off the mark with a win.
“I am looking for us to be around the top end of the table at the end of the season.”
Distington will certainly be looking to emulate Ellenborough who won promotion in their first season.
They start life in Division Two with another Cumbrian derby, a home game against Barrow Island.
The Islanders survived by the skin of their teeth last year in Division Two and will be intent on making sure there are no such alarms this time.
Millom joined Ellenborough in winning promotion to Division Two and they start with a trip to Wigan St Jude’s.
Seaton Rangers, the third Cumbrian side in Division Three, have been left without a fixture after Eastmoor Dragons pulled-out of the competition and Bentley had asked some time ago to start a week later than the rest.
Cumbria have no representative in Division One but now have three teams in the Premier Division.
Egremont won promotion last season and have a tough start at home to the powerful West Hull outfit.
New coach Rhys Davies took over from John Wells, stepping up from assistant, and is looking forward to the challenge.
Davies said: “Pre-season has gone well. It’s been hard for them but the lads have smashed it and are raring to go this week-end.
“We have no new recruits but numbers at training have been good considering some lads work shifts and we have some injuries in the squad.
“I don’t read too much into what people have predicted that we will finish bottom.
“If we go under the radar that’s fine by me because I think we will shock a few teams, especially at Gillfoot Park.”
Kells have also been predicted to go down, tipped to finish third bottom, but coach Peter Smith is intent on improving from last season.
“We have a lot of keen young lads with a couple of older heads to look after them on the field.
“Pre-season has gone well and training has been hard and good.
“We start at Heworth in York and I think that was our very first game when we joined the Conference a few years ago. I don’t think we’ve played them since.
“Unfortunately the club has had some bad news this week in that a former player and BARLA tourist Eric Nicholson has died.
“He had been living in Millom but he was well thought of and liked here at Kells. I believe he only retired from Sellafield about 18 months ago.”
Wath Brow Hornets complete the Cumbrian trio in the top flight and they start with a home game against Rochdale Mayfield, one of the surprise packages last season.
Ian Rooney’s side already have a few competitive games under their belt, unfortunately concluding with defeat at York Acorn last week.
Getting off on the right foot against the Rochdale side will be the first step on their target for the season – a top four finish.
- The Holmen Iggesund Cumberland ARL starts next week, March 9.
