By Martin Morgan

Last updated 09:42, Saturday, 15 November 2008

AMBITIOUS Carlisle Centurions are to launch a recruitment drive after their application to play in amateur RL’s flagship summer competition was accepted.

Centurions will next season line up in an expanded Co-operative Rugby League Conference National.

“We already have a strong player-base from our exploits in reaching the national semi-final stage of the Regional Conference in the last three years,” said Centurions chairman Alan Tucker.

“But now with this news, we are aiming to significantly strengthen our squad, both in terms of numbers and playing ability. Our aim is to not just participate at the new higher level but also to be very competitive.”

Carlisle pulled out of National League Three in 2005, as Conference National was then known, due to problems with players travelling long distances around the country to away games. But Tucker is confident there will be no repeat next term.

He added: “In 2004/5, we visited clubs in Basildon, Croydon, St Albans, Hemel Hempstead, Coventry etcetera. This involved players not only leaving Carlisle and returning in the early hours, it also involved overnight stopovers.

“Now, with the exception of Hemel Hempstead and Nottingham, the clubs are all within two-and-a-half hours of Carlisle.

“In 2004/5 we were almost a west Cumbrian team, heavily reliant on players who had just concluded a full winter season with Carla clubs in West Cumbria. Because the Carla season overlapped with ours and the players’ first loyalty was quite correctly to Carla, we found ourselves very light on players in the critical first few weeks of our own season.

“Our playing strength is now drawn almost exclusively from the north of the county and whilst there maybe some overlap with their RU season, this is fairly marginal

“We also, because of pre-season coaching changes and ensuing disruption, carried a too small squad into 2004/5. Since we appointed Carlisle-based Geoff Greaves as coach in 2006, he has built up a much larger squad who are local to Carlisle or Penrith and who are mainly independent of Carla clubs.”

Carlisle have a huge incentive to reach the Conference final as it is part of National League Grand Finals day, when NL1 and 2 clubs play their showpiece showdowns.

Celtic Crusaders Colts emerged as champions this year, beating Bramley Buffaloes in the final. Nottingham Outlaws have also been accepted in to the league, which now boasts 11 teams.