
There’s no let-up in the tasty end to the season in the Holmen Iggesund Cumberland League with three cracking games this week-end.
The Premier Division top four play-off semi-finals look to be exciting contests in prospect while the First Division top-four play-off final has all the ingredients of a thriller.
Starting with the new Premier Division champions Wath Brow A who will line-up against old rivals Kells A for the right to contest the final.
The Brow are now chasing four trophies, a clean sweep of the silverware on offer. With the League Championship and the E. B. Lamb and son Amateur Cup already in the trophy cabinet they are aiming now to follow-up with the Top Four title and the prized Firpress Printers Cumberland Cup.
Successful coach Paul Farrell says: “We know it’s going to be tough because it always is against Kells, and they will offer a bit more than Maryport in the way they play the game. They will be more expansive which is something we will have to combat.
“If we can complete our sets and defend as we have been doing in recent weeks I am sure we will be fine.
“Luke Spikey comes back in after missing last week through his work commitments and Matty Dougan is back from holiday. We are looking at other options for experience but generally look strong for the challenge Kells will bring.
“I just hope there’s a big crowd to watch it because these end-of-season games are proving real crackers and great entertainment for the rugby league followers in West Cumbria.”
Opposite number Jonathan Wignall said: “We have an eager squad ready to take on the League champions, whom we congratulate on their title success.
“However, this is a new competition and we are 1-1 in head-to-heads against the Brow so far this season.
“We know they will be fit and well drilled and we must be at our best to get a result.
“We’ve a mixture of youth and experience in our squad and we have confidence from our final League fixture when we played outstandingly well to nil a good Lowca side and when we managed to get the required points to get into the top four after a disappointing back half of the season.
“The chance to win silverware after such a drop-off is a huge motivation for the boys and I hope there is a big crowd to cheer the team on.”
The other semi-final sees Maryport hosting Cockermouth and these two have already had some really tough contests.
Maryport coach Mark Foster said: “After last week’s disappointment we have another big game against Cockermouth with a chance to make another final.
“Although the lads and myself were obviously gutted to lose, the mood has been positive this week as we know we were in with a chance of winning the game against Wath Brow even though we didn’t play to our best. However the lads gave everything they could effort wise.
“We know we need to improve on last week to get win against a good Cockermouth side who will be well led by player coach Liam McAvoy.
“They’ve been a bit of a bogey team for us since I took over, including beating us in the Cumberland Cup semi-final in extra time last season and they will be looking to get one over us again after we beat them in the League in August.
“As far as the team is concerned we lost three lads to injury last week and it’s tough and go whether they will be fit for next week’s Cumberland Cup final. That’s also the case with the lads who missed out last week.
“However we do welcome back a couple who have been missing and it’s fortunate that we have a decent squad including a number of Under-18’s who have done a great job when asked.
“One of them prop Alex Woodhall was outstanding last week playing for the full 80 minutes.”
The First Division play-off final, between Aspatria Hornets and Distington A is being played at Seaton Rangers ground.
The two contestants look to be well-matched and a tight encounter seems to be in prospect with a youthful Distington side against more experienced opposition.
Distington head coach Aiden Worthington said they had a good training session last night and the players are looking forward to their first final after only joining the League this season.
“We played Aspatria a couple of weeks ago and got over-run on our right-hand side so we did a bit of work on that last night. I think if we can complete our sets and not get overawed by the occasion we should be fine.
“Kiran Worthington and Jack Speight are going to drop down from the first team to help steer them round the park. They are just 19 and 21 years old and two other 18-year-olds from the first team, Bailey Worthington and Robbie-Jo Worthington will also be playing.
“The rest of the team are just 17 or 18 and are looking forward to the game and a good finish to the season.”
Mark Ridley the Aspatria chairman said: “We drew early in the season at Distington and beat them at home a couple of weeks ago after being behind at half-time.
“They only had 15 players for that last one and I am sure they will be strengthened with a couple of first teamers this time.
“Our captain Scott Donald is away at a wedding and a couple of others have work commitments, but we have a good mixture of youth and experience.
“Tough tackling young forward Jack Wilson returns to the pack and Jake Bennett continues at full-back following a good performance against Distington last time.”