Distington will be strong favourites to complete a treble tonight when they take on Kells A in the final of the Cumberland Cup.

The sides meet at the Copeland Stadium (ko 7pm) with Distington already polishing the BARLA Cumbria Cup and set to retain the Men’s Cumbria League crown.

It’s a big ask for Kells A but they do have a double in their sights themselves as they take on Lowca next Friday in the Iggesund Cumberland ARL top four final, also to be played at the Copeland Stadium.

Distington have been outstanding throughout an unbeaten season and will be keen to complete a clean sweep of the trophies on offer.

League secretary Kenny Millican is hoping that the final tonight will be blessed with a good crowd, just like the old days.

“I know we have a lot of problems in amateur rugby league at the minute, with too many postponed matches, an apparent smaller pool of players and fewer people watching, but there is still talent in the area,” he said.

“It would be nice to see a healthy attendance at the game tonight because I know they will see some very good players in action,” said Millican.

Distington have been a cut above the rest in the Men’s League this season and have the look of a team which can go on dominating the local scene for a few more years yet.

The problem they have got is the malaise that has hit the game – will there be enough testing opposition for them, or are the glut of postponed matches set to continue in 2017?

Last week only one of the five scheduled matches went ahead and one of the participating teams in that, Seaton Rangers, travelled to Ulverston with 14 players.

What has happened this season in the amateur ranks, allied to the relegation disasters for Workington Town and Whitehaven in the pro game, should be a wake up call for everyone with an interest in Cumbrian rugby league.

It’s a broad canvas, with so many areas to consider, but hopefully the wake up call will soon be a rallying call and the game can start moving forward again after too many years of stagnation.

Only two games have been scheduled for tomorrow in the Men’s League, both dead rubbers, and there are genuine fears that the travelling involved will result in further postponements.

Wath Brow A are due to travel south to Ulverston while Walney Central should be travelling up to Seaton Rangers.

What we do know, though, is that there will be a decent crowd at Kells tomorrow for the final regulation game in the National Conference Premier Division – and what a one to finish with!

Kells host Wath Brow Hornets, the return derby from very early in the season when the two sides finished level on the Brow. It will be close again, especially as both clubs were in winning form last week, with hard-fought victories.

The Brow’s 26-24 home win over West Hull had significance at the top end of the table while Kells’ hard-fought 15-12 success at Lock Lane particularly meant a lot to Egremont, battling relegation all season.

Kells’ victory condemned Lock Lane to the drop and allowed Egremont to escape while West Hull lost second spot to Leigh Miners Rangers with their defeat in west Cumbria.

Egremont, of course, had to do their bit and win against Pilkington Recs which they managed 28-14 so can make the long trip to Hull Dockers tomorrow in a more relaxed state of mind – and just enjoy the day.