Distington hit by front row crisis for Cumbria Cup trip
Last updated 11:46, Friday, 05 September 2008
DISTINGTON have suffered a disastrous opening week to their Cumberland League season losing both starting props to long-term injuries.
Paul Ashe shattered his knee in last week’s opening 21-14 win over Maryport, and Stephen Burns dislocated his knee in the 18-10 reverse against Broughton Red Rose on Wednesday night.
“Paul Ashe will be out for at least three months, and Stephen Burns will be sidelined for a couple of months, if not longer, ” said coach Gary Hewer.
“Those two are our most important go-forward players. Paul was supporters’ player-of-the-year last season and will be a big miss.
“He’s a self-employed painter, and Stephen Burns is a self-employed joiner. Players are putting their lives on the line every week, and I take my hat off to all amateur players.
“If we stay in Division One this year it will have been a success. It’s going to be difficult as we are a village team with a small population, and have to develop players from our own area. But if we all stick together, we’ll survive.”
Distington travel south tomorrow to face Dalton in Cumbria Cup action.
Glasson pulled off the first major shock of the season with their midweek defeat of champs Ellenborough.
Now they are aiming to prove the win was no fluke by going on to enjoy an improved season in Division One after finishing third-from-bottom in their first year back in the top-flight last term.
The prospects had not looked promising for the Maryport outfit when they went down 28-10 at Seaton last week. But they sharpened up their act against Ellenborough, which came as no surprise to assistant coach Chris Fisher.
“It was a bit of a wake-up call against Seaton,” he said. “Training went well on Monday and we showed well on Wednesday.
“Our first aim for the season was to challenge the bigger teams and try to beat one of them. Obviously, we’ve achieved that already.
“Last year we lost seasoned ex-professionals Mike Bethwaite and Nicky Crellin to injury, so we were quite happy to finish where we did.”
In a sign of progress they have entered the Cumbria Cup this term and tomorrow open their account against visitors Broughton Red Rose.
“It’s the first time we’ve entered the cup for three years,” Fisher added. “We’ve had only a small squad but now seem to have young players coming through, and we’ll use these games to build.
“Under new coach Joe Stewart, Broughton will probably play a more physical game than they did under Chris Wright. I know they’ll be without Ryan Moore, who has a dislocated shoulder.
“We started well against them twice last year and then fell away. But there’s a real buzz about us now.”
Sixteen-year-old Brad Nixon, son of ex-Workington Town favourite Gary Nixon, is one of their promising youngsters. He played on the wing against Ellenborough and will switch to full-back tomorrow.
Cup holders Ellenborough will look to get back on track at the expense of local rivals Maryport in another derby clash.
In the National Conference, Wath Brow opened their account with a fine win at Bradford Dudley Hill and can maintain their momentum at the expense of visitors Eastmoor.
Division Two Egremont should boast a stronger team than the one beaten at Stanley in their opener, when they host Waterhead.
Division One: Cockermouth v Seaton
Division Two: Seaton A v Lowca, Lowca A v Maryport A, Flimby v Frizington, Great Clifton v Egremont, Salterbeck v Kells A
Cumbria Cup: Ellenborough v Maryport, Glasson v Broughton Red Rose, Dalton v Distington, Kells v Wath Brow
Conference Division One: Wath Brow v Eastmoor Dragons
Division Two: Egremont v Waterhead
