There’s a reduced amateur rugby league programme this week-end with no National League or Cumbria Conference fixtures.
Wath Brow and Ellenborough should have been contesting BARLA National Cup preliminary round ties but the May Bank Holiday weekend interfered.
Originally a blank weekend, Wath Brow will be going in force with Karl Dixon to his stag celebrations abroad so have forfeited their tie at Hunslet ARLFC.
Ellenborough should have entertained Premier Division Siddal but they have also pulled-out of the fixture along similar lines to Wath Brow.
It is expected that other preliminary round games fixed for tomorrow will be similarly conceded.
In the Cumbria Men’s League, however, there are five games all in the Cumbria Cup and three of them tonight.
Earliest kick-off is at 6.30pm when Hensingham A entertain Lowca, who enjoyed a return to winning ways last week at Roose Pioneers.
Egremont A take on in-form Wath Brow A at Gillfoot with a 7pm start and that’s also the kick-off time for Cockermouth Titans against Flimby.
Cockermouth coach Liam McAvoy said: “We have a few injuries but it will be good to get some of our rugby union boys back to plug some gaps.
“I’m looking forward to seeing our scrum-half Ethan Cross develop his game and how stand-off Alfie Wright goes after a positive start.
“We have lots of young Cockermouth lads in again and they have got better each week so I’m looking forward to playing alongside them in the weeks ahead.”
Flimby’s Ricky Morrison said: “With it being changed to a Friday night we have work commitments to consider as well as injuries so we are going into the game with a bvery young side.
“Two lads will be making their open age debut for the Vikings in 17-year-olds Jayden Howard and Nathan Atkinson while Max Gradon and Liam Donnelly are in again after their performances last week.
“We’ve brought in experience in the form of Phil Flavell and Dan Weir and hpe to build on this cup game for our next fixture.”
Saturday’s games are Askam v Kells A and Glasson Rangers v Roose Pioneers.
Glasson coach Chris Broadley said: “Last week’s defeat by Maryport was painful to take as our performance fell well below the level we as a coaching group expect, especially in the second-half.
“This game is the time to put some of those wrongs right although we suffered a couple of injury blows against Maryport A. Matthew Burns, Peter Fearon and Tyler Beales all picked up injuries.
“Scott Faulkner will come in after returning from Seayton Rangers and he’s joined in the squad by the returning Lee Howard and Brad Oglanby.
”If we can put an 80 minute performance together I am sure we will be competitive.”
For Roose, Josh Tranter, Harvey Hutton, Archie Yates and the Bowness brothers Ethan and Toby all return.
They are also waiting for fitness checks on Rob Bamber, Max Davies and Regan Livingstone who are carrying knocks from previous games.
