Wath Brow Hornets have had to pull out of this weekend’s BARLA National Cup tie at Hunslet ARLFC.
Saturday is a free date in the National League fixture list, as released before the season started, so subsequently a senior member of the Wath Brow team decided to use that as his stag do.
It then transpired that the preliminary round of the National Cup was to be played on the bank holiday weekend.
A total of 69 players, officials and supporters are going on the bachelor weekend which is being held abroad – and it transpires that the date for the first round, May 23, is the day of the wedding!
The Hornets have reached four finals of the competition over the years, winning two of them back to back in 2004 and 2005 – against Oldham St Anne’s 25-19 and Skirlaugh 16-6.
Skirlaugh had beaten them 32-2 in 1999 while they also lost to East Hull, 32-10 in 2008.
Ellenborough Rangers are involved in Saturday’s preliminary round with an attractive, but tough home tie against National League Premier Division side Siddal.
If they can win that they would be away to Normanton Knights in the first round on May 23.
Ellenborough have appeared in back to back National Cup finals, losing to Skirlaugh 21-16 in 1996 and then beating Bradford Dudley Hill 28-24 a year later.
Hensingham, beaten by Saddleworth Rangers in the 1993 final, also come into the competition at the first round stage and have a home tie against the winners of Featherstone Lions and Oldham St. Anne’s.
Barrow Island have a first round home date with Hunslet ARLFC, who got the walkover when Wath Brow withdrew.
Millom, beaten by Mysons 17-8 in the 1986 final, have a home tie with Moldgreen or Thatto Heath Crusaders and Distington will also be at home to Woolston Rovers.
