Trio eye BARLA National Cup progress

The Boys will fancy their chances of progressing when they welcome Ryhill Hammers to Halifax Road.

Ryhill have lost all eight league fixtures this season, conceding 346 points in the process and lie bottom of Pennine Division Six East.

The Boys will bid to bounce back from last week’s 36-16 defeat to Bentley Good Companions and are 65 places above their opponents in the league standings.

Thornhill Trojans left the Pennine League Premier Division earlier this season as they plan a new venture in the National Conference, which begins in March.

The Trojans are looking forward to a National Cup first round trip to Humberside when they take on Holderness Vikings.

The club will run a coach to the game, with supporters welcome to travel with the team, departing the club at 11.30am.

Thornhill will also use the game as part of their pre-season preparations for the new Conference campaign.

Holderness play in the Yorkshire Men’s League, which also resumes in March, and they finished third in the Premier Division last season, so should provide Thornhill with a useful test.

Dewsbury Moor face a stern test at home to a Widnes West Bank Bears side, who come into the game on the back of the most successful campaign in the club’s recent history.

West Bank completed a North West Men’s League treble last season as they claimed the leaders shield and won the cup last summer, but they have not played since overcoming close rivals Widnes St Maries in their Grand Final last October.

Moor are riding high as joint leaders of the Pennine League Championship and go into the game full of confidence following last week’s 16-0 victory over New Earswick, which saw winger George Croisdale score a hat-trick.

Moor’s A team make the short trip to Drighlington A in Pennine Division Six East on Saturday.