Wath Brow Hornets coach Ian Rooney will be leaving nothing to chance when Rochdale Mayfield visit Ghiel Park.
The Rochdale side have lost all seven games in the National League’s Premier Division while the Hornets are lying a handy fifth.
Rooney says: “I will be treating them with the greatest of respect. They are a well-run club, with a large catchment area and have always proved difficult opponents for us.
“I don’t know what’s happened this season but they will have our respect from the word go. We are in a transition period ourselves afte losing six or seven players and bringing in youngsters to fill the gaps.
“They have done well with some promising performances but we are far from the finished article and have to keep on working hard.”
One of the senior players, Karl Dixon, misses out tomorrow as he’s getting married and the Wath Brow club had 70 away with him in Benidorm last weekend for his bachelor weekend.
In Division One both West Cumbrian clubs are at home and they couldn’t have a bigger difference in opponents.
Kells entertain 100% leaders Dewsbury Celtic while Egremont host Oldham St Anne’s who have lost all seven games to prop up the table.
Clearly a big game for Kells, coach Peter Smith said: “They’ve come down from the Premier Division and are going well to try and get back straight away.
“It is obviously a big game, second against first, and although we have injuries to Lewis Smith and Dan Starkie, with Karl Garner unavailable and Tyce Walmsley on Workington Town duty, we have a solid team and looking forward to it.”
Egremont are lying fifth in the table and have no real changes to the starting line-up from their last game, a 46-24 win at Pilkington Recs two weeks ago.
Coach Danny Barker said: “Jack Pae replaces Dylan Morris at nine due to his England commitments but that’s the only change in the starting thirteen.
“The two Caine brothers Dan and Ben return to the bench and Johnny Royle also comes into the 17.”
In the Cumbria Conference new leaders Dalton have a home game against Seaton Rangers.
Dalton coach Paul Armstroing has plenty to pick from this weekend as the A team have a free date.
Club captain Joe Crarey misses out but is expected to return to full training next week while half-back Cavan Armstrong will also be absent for a number of weeks after picking up a minor leg fracture at training.
Armstrong says: “Tom Sharpe, Floyd Tweddle, Elliot Bibby, Jack Gedling and Pat Kelly are all unavailable but Shane Sanderson is expected to return to the 17 following a rib injury, along with Dan Knott who missed the win against Hensingham due to Barrow Raiders commitments.
“Youngsters Niall Maudsley and Rio York are both expected to be included in the match day squad after good performances in the last A team game at Hensingham.”
Seaton Rangers coach Neil Frazer believes he’s got the best squad to travel away that he’s had so far this season.
“We will need it because it’s going to be a real toiugh game as Dalton are going really well and deservedly sit at the top of the table.
“We’ll go down and give it everything we’ve got and see what happens,” said Frazer.
Jaiden Tallentire misses out due to his Community Lions commitments and Lewis Mason picked up a shoulder injury in our last game. They join long term injury absentees Jordan O’Leary and Ethan Frazer.
Sam Blair is back and he hasn’t played since sufferiong a bad mouth injury in the very first tackle of the Distington game in March.
Mark Surtees will play his first game of the season and Todd Wilkinson is back as well.
After that first defeat against Dalton two weeks ago Hensingham will be looking to bounce back at home to Distington.
Fletcher Holgate is back and Jaylen Conway earns a call-up following an impressive win in the Cumbria Men’s League team.
Missing will be Rylan Templeton and Kier Starkie who are away with England Community Lions while Daniel McGarry, Corby Rickerby and Miller Dalton have all picked up injuries in the last few weeks.
Coach Andrew Smith said: “There are still a number of players sidelined with injuries who will be missing for at least a couple more weeks.”
Opposite number Ryan Hodgson said: “We are doing it tough at the minute as we have 13 lads unavailable through injury.
“It’s a particularly massive blow for Harrison Riley who play a full season of union for Whitehaven, was selected for the Hindpool game that was cancelled and was raring to go – but ruptured his Achilles in training. He’s going to be out for a while so we are wishing him all the best.
“Scott Rooke and Jamie Friel are both still recovering from recent operations while Bailey Worthington is away on England duty.
“We do have a team missed with youth and experience and will be aiming to put in a performance.”
There should be a good, tight contest at the Athletic Ground where Maryport are due to take-on Millom.
Maryport coach Mark Foster told Cumbria Crack: “We are looking to build on two good results, a home win over Distington and a draw in the derby at Ellenborough. We will be looking for the same attitude and commitment’
“Millom will come very strong with some dual registration and ex-pro experience. They have had three good wins and four close defeats so we know we will have to be good to get anything from the game.”
Back into the side are Liam Anderson, Luke Baker and Ethan Williams who were unavailable against Elbra but Ellis Nixon misses out with a mouth injury picked-up in that game.
Malik Steele and Ryan Morris are unavailable while Joel Baker is struggling with a knee injury and young prop Luke Cuthbertson is on holiday..
Millom also have absentees through injuries and unavailabilities but coach Brad Crellin says that Ricky Donoghue returns along with Niall Harris. Young Oliver Thompson will get a place in the centre while Charlie Fallows will make his competitive debut.
Ulverston coach Marc Storey will miss the home game against Ellenboroughb as he’s at a wedding while Brad Williamson is also away.
Kian Ogden and Connor Ogden both return to the squad and there’s a big return for Tom Spedding who makes his first appearance hoping to guide the youngsters round the field.
Ellenborough drew a hard-fought derby with Maryport in their last outing and will be on similar lines for this trip to the south of the county.
Hindpool Tigers go to Barrow Island and have a lot of players unavailable while added to the list are their talented young wingers Rocco Scarpone and Kori Hayes.
But they will have 17 which will include a long-awaited return of powerful back row/centre Sam Turner after a year out of the game.
