Last updated at 14:10, Wednesday, 11 April 2012

Players from the lower regions of club rugby in Cumbria will get the chance tonight to stake their claim for county recognition.

Mark Richardson

The new coaching team leading Cumbria’s challenge for a showpiece final at Twickenham have organised a match at Workington’s Ellis Sports Ground (kick-off 7-30pm).

Thirteen different clubs are represented in the two team selections as a County President’s XV take on a Workington Zebras Select, with everyone on the pitch hoping to do enough to win a place in the senior squad which is to be announced on Thursday.

More clubs would have been included but the selectors were mindful of those clubs who are still involved in League relegation or promotion battles on Saturday.

Head coach Malcolm Brown, a former Cumbria captain, said: “The vision of the management team is to select, prepare and coach a competitive squad who will play at Twickenham in the national Plate Final.

“It is 15 years since Cumbria won the County Championship final at Twickenham and we believe that if players commit to the programme, retain and develop personal fitness, bond effectively communicate effectively with managers that vision can be achieved.

“Appearing for the President’s XV was a natural stepping stone from club to representative honours, and I don’t think we’ll have had such a match for ten years or more.

“The beauty of this game is that all the players were recommended by club coaches, and particularly for the younger ones it’s a great chance to get noticed and earn a place in the County squad.”

Mark Richardson, who skippered Cumbria to their County Championship triumph, will manage the new-look Cumbria while Brown is joined by the experienced pair of Mike Scott (Aspatria) and Dan Bowman (Workington) on the coaching panel.

The President’s XV is: James Crawford (Windermere). Ricky Sutcliffe (Silloth), Matt Sayle (Hawcoat Park), Kurt Maudling (St. Benedict’s). Paul Lancaster (Whitehaven), Willie Miller (Silloth), Jack Clegg (Aspatria), Graham Marshall (Keswick), Stephen Green (Wigton), James Ravell (Aspatria), James Brough (Wigton), Carrick Wharmby (Keswick), Graham Temple (Egremont), John Blue (Upper Eden), Corne Els (Furness).

Replacements: Dan Harrison (Windermere), Ben Bentham (Keswick), James Hinkley (Keswick), Fergus Ledingham (Wigton), Lee Askew (Aspatria), Dan Dudley (Creighton).

Zebras Select (Workington except where stated): Ross Atherton, Daniel Appleton (St. Benedict’s), Lee Hood (Moresby), Andrew Miller (Aspatria), Lee Tinnion (Aspatria), Michael Fearon, Andrew Branthwaite, Jamie Jardine (St. Benedict’s), Dave Todhunter, Chris Tweddle, Euan Shand (Wigton), Ashley Mowat (Hawcoat Park), Thomas Dixon (Millom), Lawrence Brown (Aspatria), Scott Wood (St. Benedict’s).

Replacements: Connor Mackay, John Chisnall, Phil Armstrong, Calum Moffat.

First published at 11:27, Wednesday, 11 April 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk