Heworth must be heartily sick of Cumbrian opposition – and it hasn’t finished yet!
In the last two home games Heworth have been pipped by both Kells and Wath Brow – first by a single field goal, and then by a Hornets try two minutes from the end.
Tomorrow it’s Egremont who will be trying to make it a unique Cumbrian treble as they travel to York to take on the team that accompanied them into the Premier Division bafter sharing promotion honours last season.
Egremont coach Rhys Davies said: “After an excellent performance last week to beat the champions Hunslet ARLFC we have a trick away trip to Heworth, a team we know well from last year when we had two close games against them.
“I am confident the lads can back-up Saturday’s performance with a win on the road.”
Wath Brow are not used to being in the bottom half of the table approaching the half-way point of the season.
Coach Ian Rooney will be hoping that last gasp win at Heworth can be starting point for a revival and they can follow up against York Acorn tomorrow when they have home advantage.
The Acorn started the season impressively, but have lost their last two games, including being nilled at Siddal last week.
Kells were architects of their own downfall last week when they lost at West Bowling and coach Peter Smith will be hoping his side can get back to basics tomorrow at home to Thatto Heath Crusaders.
They do have some players missing but, as Smith says, every club has to deal with that sort of thing throughout the summer.
Cumbria’s three representatives in Division Two are all in the bottom half of the table but have home games tomorrow where they will certainly be targeting wins.
Elbra, who drew last week at Myton, are at home to Thornhill Trojans the side a point and a place better off than them in the table.
Paul Gorge, the Ellenborough coach, has generally been pleased with his side’s performances so far which haven’t produced the results they probably deserved.
“We are looking forward to Thornhill coming up and us beating them to leapfrog them in the table. It should be a good game although we have one or two missing through work and holidays but that’s normal.
“Our A team have a derby game with Maryport tonight and qwe expect to have two competitive squads out for the two games,” said Gorge.
Millom will be fancied to see-off visitors Saddleworth Rangers who travel tom south Cumbria with only one win so far and only one team, Pilkington Recs below them in the table.
Barrow Island probably have the toughest test against an Oldhsm St Anne’s side fourth in the table but the Islanders were nor far away from a win at Thornhill last week and can go into the contest with some degree of confidence.
All three Cumbrian sides in Division Three have matches with Distington and Hensingham going into action first and second in the table.
Distington host Leigh East and with drying ground home coach Aiden Worthington is epecting a good, fast game.
“We’ve been waiting for better conditions underfoot and I think it will be a good game as Leigh East play on an artificial surface so will be used to better pitches.
“We have six players missing due to a wedding and a kids’ football tournament, but three lads from the second team are stepping up and I have confidence in their ability to cope,” said Worthington.
Hensingham travel to the bottom side Featherstone Lions who have conceded 318 points in their six games so far.
Coach Kris Coward said: “Well the first thing is I’ve been at the lads all week that I don’t want to see any complacency. We take this one as we have done every other game so far and make a hard start and go on to win the game.
“We do have to make five changes because of three bad injuries, a suspension and one lad not being available but I’m sure the lads coming in will do what is required.”
Seaton Rangers are aiming for their first win as they host Milford the team immediately above them in the table.
Coach Gus Frazer had 26 players available for the game and says he has chosen his strongest team of the season, the only set-back being the absence of promising full-back Connor McCrickard.
“It’s really good to have plenty of players to pick from and we have Caine Barnes playing for his old amateur club. It’s actually his open age debut for the club because he signed for Wigan as a teenager from Seaton and then joined Workington Town.
“He’s been bothered with an injury for a while now but is fit and raring to go and his presence is a big boost to the lads who will be playing with him.
“We also have our hooker Liam Williamson back and he makes a big difference to the team, which is another big positive.
“I don’t know anything about Milford except they have had a couple of relegations and are trying to re-establish themselves in this League now.”
