AMATEUR RL By Martin Morgan

Published at 11:39, Tuesday, 22 April 2008

LEADERS Kells will travel to Ellenborough on Friday, May 2, for a Cumberland League title decider – if the Maryport outfit win tonight at Seaton and then pull of a home win over Hensingham next Tuesday.

Matchwinner: Elbra's Stephen Stoddart

Ellenborough, who are in the middle of clearing a big fixture backlog, cannot afford any slip-ups before they face Kells, or the Whitehaven outfit will be crowned champs.

“Every match is now a cup tie for us, and none will be easy,” said chairman Wilson Smith.

“Every competition we have entered, apart from the National Cup, we are still in, so we’re going for the Grand Slam.”

Scrum-half Eddie Robinson missed Saturday’s 22-21 win over Leeds outfit Queens in the Champion of Champions semi-final but should return tonight.

A last-gasp Stephen Stoddart drop-goal put Ellenborough in to the Fylde final, where they will face Warrington side Bank Quay Bull.

The match will be a curtain-raiser to Wath Brow’s National Cup final against East Hull.

“It was a classic game of rugby league,” Smith said. “They were one of the biggest sides we have played, with a stand-off and centres bigger than some of the forwards.

“And they were a useful side on the ball. We had two tries disallowed, one of which I can accept, but the other was for a forward pass that was nowhere near forward.”

Kells host Broughton Red Rose tonight in an SJR Cumberland Cup semi-final. And while the league may be their top priority, a cup would not go amiss, either, for Peter Smith’s men.

“Kells haven’t really had a showing in any cup since I’ve been involved, and it’s about time we put that right,” said Smith, who could be without centre Stephen McGrady tonight.

“I hope the league is over with before we play Ellenborough on May 2. Maybe a bit of fatigue will kick in with them, as they have been playing twice a week.”

Also tonight, Cockermouth host Frizington in a Division Two Top Four semi-final.

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk