The Cumberland Cup has been the most prized trophy in local amateur rugby league for many years – and there’s always a buzz about the annual showdown.
Firpress Printers are the sponsors now of the famous old trophy which is the prize tomorrow in the final between Maryport and Wath Brow A.
Because they also meet in the Holmen Iggesund Cumberland League top four final next Friday it was sensibly agreed to stage a final each, with Maryport hosting the Cumberland Cup tomorrow.
The club are looking forward to putting on the amateur game’s major final and hoping the trophy will be going nowhere else after the contest.
Current Maryport coach Mark Foster was captain the last time Maryport won the trophy in 2013 when they beat Distington in the final.
They lost their grip on the silverware, with Foster still leading the side, when they were beaten by Distington the following year.
Now coach Foster said: “We are expecting a big crowd and I know from a Maryport point of view we have a squad of players who will battle all the way.
“They showed that last week to beat Cockermouth in extra time after looking beaten.
“We have a couple of players coming back into contention from injury, but all season it’s been a squad game and that’s what it will be like tomorrow. We meet at Wath Brow next week and the lads who are available will all be in contention for that one as well.”
Maryport won the game two weeks ago to take the title race to a decider which the Brow won, so now they face two more clashes in what has become a mini-series.
Wath Brow are very proud of the fact that they were the first A team to win the Cumberland League and if they win the final that would also apply.
Coach Paul Farrell said: “We have been focused on ticking off one box at a time and we now have just the two finals left. We know it’s going to be tough but if we complete our sets and defend as we can I am sure we will be fine.
“Everyone is looking forward to the game and we have had two good training sessions, working on one or things and putting smiles on faces.”
All roads lead to the Athletic Ground, Maryport for the final, which has a 2.30pm kick-off.
