THE first round of the Powergen Challenge Cup gets underway on Saturday with Blackbrook and Haydock both at home to Yorkshire opposition, while Thatto Heath trek south to take on St Albans Centurions.

Fresh from their comfortable victory over Ideal Isberg last week, Haydock have every reason to be confident of making further progress against Yorkshire League Premier Division outfit Cutsyke and I'll be surprised if they are not in the hat for the next round.

Blackbrook, though, look to have a tougher task against Oulton Raiders. Although the Leeds club are hardly setting the National Conference League Premier Division alight this season they are likely to provide stern opposition for a Brook side that looked decidedly subdued when going down heavily at home to Barrow Island.

I must confess that National League Three club St Albans Centurions are a complete mystery to me, although I am informed that they have St Helens connections.

However, provided they travel with a reasonably strong squad, Heath should make it safely through to the next round.

Any spectators wishing to support Heath are asked to note that the coach will leave the Boars Head at 7.45am.

Bold Miners moved up to fourth place in the North West Counties League Premier Division with last week's hard-fought victory over win-less Wigan St Cuthberts and they could snatch third spot this week if they can overcome another of the division's strugglers, Rylands.

Solid defence won the day for the Miners as they edged home 20-14 when the sides met at Fleet Lane in October and another close game is on the cards for the return at Warrington.

Despite the counter attractions, Pilks Recs stage arguably the biggest fixture of the day when they take on Bank Quay Bulls for the third time this season in what is effectively a NWCL Division One championship 'decider' at City Road.

Honours are even so far, with Bank Quay having won a NWC Challenge Cup clash at the end of October and Recs producing a magnificent effort to win the first league clash at Warrington just three weeks ago.

The Bulls' supreme confidence - some might call it cockiness - has taken a bit of a battering in recent weeks, with that loss to Pilks followed by a National Cup defeat by local rivals Crosfields at the weekend. No doubt though they will be looking to bounce back and a great game is in prospect.

Crunch

In the same division Haresfinch also stage a crunch clash when they entertain an Ulverston side that, ironically, did them a favour last week by beating fellow strugglers Wigan St Pats while Finch were just getting the better of Latchford Albion.

The Cumbrians won by six points when the sides met at Ulverston three weeks ago and it's likely to be another nail-biter this time around.