The weekend amateur rugby league programme opened tonight with a game at Gillfoot, Egremont.
It was a clash between the respective Rangers A teams of Egremont and Seaton but won’t count in the Cumbria Men’s League First Division.
Seaton have decided to withdraw from the competition but will play as many friendlies as they are able.
A withering crop of injuries have seriously disrupted Seaton’s early season programme.
In the Cumbria Conference something has to give in the match of the day at Dalton where Hensingham are the visitors.
Both teams are 100% but Hensingham lead the way by two points as they have played a game more than their hosts.
Hensingham coach Andrew Smith said: “We still have a handful of players missing through injury. I was hopeful of getting a couple back but they aren’t right so they won’t be rushed back.
“Added to that list will be Henley Donnan with a groin issue and Miller Dalton who has a shoulder injury.
“Fletcher Holgate will be absent due to a pre-planned holiday but we do welcome back Dylan Cromwell from injury and Jordan Thomson is back in the side after being unavailable since his return from Whitehaven.”
Dalton’s Paul Armstrong told Cumbria Crack: “Despite having around 15 players unavailable across the two teams we still expect to field strong sides against Hensingham in both the home first team and away A team games.
“For the first team Joe Crarey and Shane Sanderson are close to returning to training following injury but remain unavailable as yet while Ben Ashburner and Pat Kelly also miss out due to holiday and work commitments.
“Elliot Bibby, Cavan Armstrong, Tom Sharpe and Callum Leach all return after missing last week’s derby win at Ulverston with forward Ioan Hayes a late addition to the squad.
“A number of players are unavailable for the A team including Caleb Mansergh, Elliot Jackson, Harry Hughes, Jim Braithwaite and Alfie Stevens, but Kyle Brennan will play in the half’s after moving some things round to be available.
“Young prospect Rio Yorke is also expected to make his open age debut at Hensingham and will travel with last weeks MoM Ryu McDermott straight from England Lions training to make the game.
“Devon Hartley will also start after coming off the bench for the first team last week for an impressive cameo.”
If that’s the stand-out game, there are two others which should attract plenty of attention.
Old National Conference rivals Millom and Barrow Island meet head on in the south of the county while there’s a West Cumbrian derby in prospect between Ellenborough and Maryport.
Millom will be without Hayden Jackson with a broken thumb but Hadley Thompson, Rio Walker and Jack Barker are in contention again.
Ellenborough, keen for local bragging rights against Maryport, will be able to put out a strong squad.
They were in good heart last week after a 50-22 win over Hindpool and coach Paul Gorge wants to build on that.
Maryport make four changes from the side which beat Distington last week.
Captain Scott Atherton is back in the squad and Joel Baker returns after being unavailable since the opening game of the season.
Coach Mark Foster said: “It will be a good test for us against another team from last season’s NCL.
“We are expecting a tough, physical encounter in what will be a typical derby game with plenty of commitment from both sides.
“We know they have a big pack with some dangerous backs so we will have to play well to contain them but I’m confident in our lads ability to compete with these teams in the new league set-up.
“We have the same record as Elbra, three wins from six games but all form goes out the window in derby games and we will be going into it as underdogs to most people.”
Seaton Rangers entertain Ulverston and home coach Neil Frazerv said: “We have six lads back who were unavailable last week but are still short of middles due to injuries.
“Rhys Bold will be making his first team open age debut. He’s aa middle that’s stepped up from Under-16s this year and a good prospect but he’s been out for months with a bad knee injury.
“Due to our lack of middles he’ll be on the bench and can hopefully do a couple of spells to get him back into the swing of things and get some match fitness into him.”
Ulverston coach Marc Storey said: “It’s going to be another tough test but the lads have trained well this week. We are competing well at points during games and just need to put it together for 80 minutes.
“Finn Hood and Warren Bolton return and Ben Parkinson is in line for his debut.”
Max Nisbet’s season looks to be over with a bad shoulder injury while Dave Cowsill and Zak Hopkins miss out through work commitments..
The fifth Cumbria Conference game between Distington and Hindpool Tigers has been postponed.
A Hindpool official said: “Unfortunately we are having to try and reschedule after the coach company informed us at very short notice that they don’t have a driver available for us and we haven’t enough drivers in the team to get us there..
“It’s not great but we are trying to reschedule to another date after discussion with Distington before we have to forfeit the points.”
At the top of the community game in the National Conference Premier Division Wath Brow Hornets are at home to Heworth.
Despite last week’s defeat 26-16 at Hunslet ARLFC coach Ian Rooney was delighted with the contributions from his younger players.
They have proved themselves stepping up and some are likely to figure again at Ghiel Park.
Kells are on the road again to Stanningley looking to continue their excellent start in Division One.
Coach Peter Smith has two players away and another couple with injuries but still believes Kells will be fielding a strong team.
After their win over Oulton Raiders last week Egremont Rangers travel to next-to-bottom Pilkington Recs in ivision One.
Tom Houghton comes in at full-back with Jack Stainton moving to the bench and Jordan Baird also returns on the wing after missing last week through work.
Dylan Morris starts at hooker after being away training with England Under-19s allowing Lachlan McDowell to move to his more natural loose forward position.
Both Caine brothers are away on their older brothers stag week-end so Jonny Royle comes in on the bench.
Coach Danny Barker said: “Overall I think we have 10/11 players injured or missing due to other events this week but we will be giving it our best shot as usual.”
Kells A and Wath Brow A are playing tonight in the Cumbria Men’s League Premier Division and so too are Maryport A and Glasson A in another local derby.
Roose Pioneers entertain Lowca in the Premier Division.
Roose coach Lee Edmondson said: “Missing this week are Josh Tranter, plus Ethan and Toby Bowness while Regan Livingston is doubtful after picking up an ankle injury last week.
“We do welcome back Jack Dolan, Oliver Morgan, Harvey Hutton and Sam Doyle who all missed last week.
“Louis France will play his first game of the season as we look to select an 18-man squad for the game.”
Lowca coach Lee Allen said: “It was hard work last week against a very good Askam side but we gave it all with a young team.
“We have some regulars back this week but it’s going to be another tough contest.
“Roose are a similar team to Askam and have had a good start to the season so it will be a test for us.”
Cockermouth Titans are at home to Flimby in the third Premier Division game.
In Division One Aspatria Hornets travel to Millom A for a noon kick-off.
Ellis Holliday returns at full-back with his dad and head coach Ricky playing at centre.
Another exciting young player Frazer Williamson returns at scrum-half while the bench still has to be finalised.
It also doubles as a Cumbria Cup game.
