FOLLOWING last week's weather problems - heavy midweek rain followed by severe frost - Haydock will be looking to get their National Cup campaign back on track this week when they are once again due to play host to Ideal Isberg of the National Conference League.

The Yickers now have the added incentive of another home tie in the fourth round should they safely negotiate Saturday's hurdle.

Ideal are currently third from bottom in the Conference Division One but teams from Humberside can never be under-estimated and it is obviously difficult to evaluate the respective merits of sides from different leagues.

However, if Haydock play to their potential home advantage should help them swing this one.

In the North West Counties League Premier Division both Blackbrook and Bold Miners will be hopeful of two points at home to Barrow Island and Wigan St Cuthberts respectively.

Brook, who still have title aspirations, will be seeking to avenge their 10-6 defeat in Cumbria at the beginning of October.

On the face of it, they would appear to have a tricky task against the Islanders who are currently second in the table having only suffered one defeat to date.

However, that might just be a false position and I expect Brook to come out on top.

Consolidation is the name of the game for Bold Miners whose efforts have not been helped by the stop-start nature of their season.

With newly-promoted St Cuthberts still seeking their first Premier Division win after 12 matches, Darren Anders and his lads will not want to be the Wiganers' first victims and that should be incentive enough for them to take the spoils.

In Division One Haresfinch's battle for survival continues when they entertain Latchford Albion.

With fellow strugglers Wigan St Pats A starting to pick up points Finch have to win all three of their remaining games to have any hope of avoiding the drop.

Scalps

Latchford, who started the season well, with a win at Haydock in the Lancashire Cup among their 'scalps', have tailed off in recent weeks and I think Finch can sneak this.

Having twice lost narrowly to Golborne Parkside, Haydock A's hopes of promotion from Division Three are likely to hinge on forthcoming home and away games against unbeaten leaders Shevington and Milnrow.

They must also continue to beat the lesser sides as well though and on Saturday they travel up the M6 to take on Bamber Bridge. Nothing less than a win will be good enough and I'll be very surprised if they don't come away with the spoils.

Elsewhere in the division, Clock Face Miners and Thatto Heath A clash in a local derby. When the sides met shortly before Christmas Heath just got the better of a close contest and a similar outcome is on the cards this time around.

There is a top-versus-bottom clash in Division Four when Blackbrook A should maintain their promotion bid at the expense of their Crosfields counterparts at Boardmans Lane.

Meanwhile, just across the way at Parr Stocks, Eccleston Lions are at home to Cadishead Rhinos.

Lions' battle to beat relegation was given a boost when they beat Wigan Keepers away last week and they will be looking for a similar result against the Rhinos.

In Division Six Newton Storm will hope to add to their three wins to date when they entertain Orrell St James second string who currently lie just a place above them in the table.

Fixtures, Saturday, January 29

GMB Union National Cup 3rd round: Haydock v Ideal Isberg.

North West Counties League Premier Division: Blackbrook v Barrow Island, Bold Miners v Wigan St Cuthberts.

Division Three: Bamber Bridge v Haydock A, Clock Face Miners v Thatto Heath A.

Division Four: Blackbrook A v Crosfields A, Eccleston Lions v Cadishead Rhinos.

Division Six: Newton Storm v Orrell St James A.

Results, Saturday, January 22

GMB Union National Cup 3rd round: Thatto Heath Crusaders 44 Heworth 12.

North West Counties League Division Four: Cadishead Rhinos 6 Blackbrook A 26, Wigan Keepers Bulldogs 12 Eccleston Lions 18.