The Firpress Cumberland Cup dominates this weekends fixtures in the Cumberland ARL.
The action gets underway tonight with Distington A hosting Division One leaders Maryport (ko 6-45).
The home side share bottom spot in Division Two with Maryport’s A team so Mark Foster’s side will be hot favourites to make progress.
There’s a keenly anticipated Maryport derby in prospect tomorrow as Glasson Rangers host Flimby.
Glasson have found it tough since their return to League action and have only one draw from their nine games to prop-up Division One.
Flimby have made good progress this year with three wins to their name and although having to make the short trip to contest the tie will start favourites.
Cockermouth Titans – fifth in Division One – will expect to progress at the expense of Egremont A (fourth in Division Two), especially on home turf at Highfield.
The fourth tie sees Seaton Rangers hosting Aspatria Hornets, and they will be strong favourites to make the quarter final.
Seaton in Division One and Aspatria in Division Two both lie second in the respective tables.
The quarter final draw has already been made and will be: Hensingham A v Glasson or Flimby; Cockermouth or Egremont A v Seaton or Aspatria; Kells A v Wath Brow A; Distington A or Maryport v Lowca.
The National Conference has a full programme tomorrow Wath Brow at home to Hunslet ARLFC.
The Brow are currently fifth in the Premier League table, one point and two places better off than their visitors.
Ian Rooney’s side was well beaten by Thatto Heath last week and will certainly want to get that out of their system as quickly as possible.
Kells have found some form in recent weeks and could still mount a late challenge for the play-offs.
It’s a good test tomorrow as they visit Oldham St. Anne’s who are a point and a place below them in the Division One table.
Egremont are fourth bottom but should have enough in the tank to avoid any relegation issues.
A home win tomorrow against Wigan St Patrick’s would help as they would leapfrog by a point their visitors.
Cumbria’s three teams in Division Two are all away from home.
The biggest test faces Hensingham as they travel to play leaders East Leeds who are 100% from 15 games, 10 points clear of the fifth-placed Cumbrians.
Dewsbury Celtic are second, some six points behind East Leeds who are already being labelled champions-elect.
They host Barrow Island, who are mid-table but some 12 points behind Celtic.
Ellenborough would be encouraged by last week’s home win over Drighlington but they stayed bottom still four points shy of the safety position.
It’s a key game, but a long trip to Humberside to face old rivals from bygone National Cup days, Skirlaugh.
They currently occupy that fourth from bottom slot but as is often the case it’s how strong Elbra can be for such a long trip.
In Division Three both Cumbrian sides, Distington and Millom are at the wrong end of the table.
Distington, who just missed out on promotion last season – their first in the Conference – are at home to Featherstone Lions.
The Lions are fourth in the table and a win for Distington would push them to within two points of their visitors.
Millom are next to bottom after last season’s relegation and have a really big test against leaders Bentley, hooping that home advantage will help them.
