Two west Cumbrians have been selected for the Great Britain Bulldogs Over-35s on their trip to the Dubai Nines in December.

James Robinson, more recently a Whitehaven director, played his amateur rugby league with Kells before enjoying a long career with Workington Town. He has also played for Workington and Cockermouth rugby union clubs and, last month, turned out for Seaton Rangers in an Iggesund Cumberland ARL Premier Division game.

He is joined in the squad by ex-Kells forward Alan McGuinness who also turned professional with Workington Town.

The squad of 15 was finally selected from nearly 40 players who put their names forward, and manager Martyn Ward said it was the toughest call they had to make in choosing the final number.

Ward said: “Experience tells us that circumstances will almost certainly mean that some players, for a variety of reasons will have to drop out so the door is never closed.”

The Bulldogs continue to support and raise awareness of the State of Mind charity and have other tips lined-up for 2019, possibly to Amsterdam, Rome and Prague.

Meanwhile, on the local scene, all three west Cumbrian sides in the National Conference Premier Division have big matches in prospect tomorrow.

Egremont and Wath Brow are looking to cement top six play-off places, while Kells continue their fight against relegation.

Last weekend, Egremont lost second spot for the first time in weeks when they went down 34-8 to league winners Hunslet Club Parkside.

That’s no disgrace losing to a side who have swept all before them with 18 straight wins in the competition.

Tomorrow, Rangers get the chance to return to winning ways when they host second bottom Wigan St Patrick’s, although their visitors are fighting for every point.

They look doomed but snatched a vital 32-24 home win against fellow strugglers Rochdale Mayfield last week to give them heart. Thy need four wins from as many matches to have a chance of staying up – but even that’s a slim one.

As for Rochdale Mayfield they host Kells tomorrow in what is clearly your definitive four pointer.

The Cumbrians lead them by two points but Mayfield have a better points differential which means if they win will go back above Kells.

But, suddenly Normanton Knights have been sucked into the relegation battle, level on points with Kells but this time the Cumbrians have the better points differential.

Coach Peter Smith was delighted with his side’s efforts in a 14-10 win at Siddal, which ranked as one of their best performances of the season.

“It was certainly up there with our win against Thatto Heath and came just at the right time,” he said.

“Hopefully, Paul Cullnean will be back from injury against Mayfield and I think we might have a couple back as well.

“But it’s in our own hands with four games left and the sooner we put safety to bed then the better it will be for us. I hope we can lay our Mayfield bogey this time,” said Smith.

Wath Brow Hornets are fifth, battling for a play-off place, and have a tough game in prospect tomorrow at second-placed Thatto Heath Crusaders.

But the Hornets will travel in very good heart following a hard-fought 8-4 derby win at Egremont, and then a record-breaking 94-10 home win against doomed Myton Warriors.

Distington and Wath Brow A are the respective champions of the Iggesund Cumberland ARL Premier and First Division.

Tomorrow’s action is largely concentrated on the first round of the CARL Cup with three ties originally set to be staged. But that’s down to one with Flimby folding and Hensingham A asking for a break in fixtures because of a club injury crisis.

The one game left would have been the best of the bunch and it sees Aspatria Hornets entertaining Cockermouth Titans.

There are two Premier Division games as well: Kells A v Seaton Rangers and Glasson Rangers v Hensingham.