Last updated 11:45, Friday, 21 November 2008

FURNESSFURNESS continue to be top dog of North Lancs 1 with a hard-earned win last week at Ashton-under-Lyne. THE Hawcoat Park first team have a blank weekend.

RUGBY UNION

Eccles kept up the pace with a victory over Bury and have a game in hand over Furness but with an inferior goal difference.

This week the league takes a rest and Furness will take the opportunity to take stock and look forward to the arrival of Garstang on November 29.

It is also time to asses the players in the second string as Adam McLarnon’s men take on Preston Grasshoppers 7ths at the Strawberry Ground for a Miller Holmes league fixture.

Furness presently lie in fourth place with their guests propping-up the table having yet to register a win.

The skipper should feel confident of securing the points however there will be more emphasis on the performance rather than the result.

Club coach Darren Holt and club captain Phil Brockbank will be able to take a first hand look at some of the emerging young talent coming through the ranks.

Full-back Mathew Studt, fly-half Dan Mullan, centre Dan Thompson and forwards Dan Moyes, Pierce Cleaver, James Tyson and Tony Cockburn will all be looking to put in good performances and catch the selector’s eye.

Rob Prescott, Peter Helm and Phil Danson should be able to add experience to this up and coming young side.

Players are asked to meet at 1pm for a 2.30pm kick off.

Furness under-15s girls play Manchester at the Strawberry Grounds on Sunday (1.30pm kick-off).

Refreshments will be available before and after the game.

HAWCOAT PARK

The A team had a good home win last week against Ambleside. The score was 17-10 but this exciting and enjoyable game went right down to the wire and either team could have come out on top.

George Hilton had a solid game at full-back looking good with his running every time he came into the line; however he needed to be on top form as his opposite number in the Ambleside side was an impressive performer.

Newcomer Shaun Vasey continues to impress in the second row and collected one of the tries.

The other try was touched down by thee evergreen Steve Rowlandson, who also booted a conversion and a penalty goal.

Scrum-half Jas Trundle also added a conversion.

Other good performances were put in by the Akin brothers, Eddie in the centre and James in the second row.

This week Adam Corrie takes his team to the appropriately-named Winters Park, the home of Penrith, which is never an easy place to play.

Although missing top performer from last week, George Hilton, the nucleus of the team remains the same as last week so they will make the short trip up the M6 confident that they will be able to create a good impression on Charlie Sanson from the Navy who will be making his debut for the club after impressing in training.

Solid performers Ray Sayle and Martin Steele continue at prop and will be looking to help in the continuing development of promising young hooker Adam Grainger.