Kells have the local National Conference scene to themselves tomorrow when they host Underbank Rangers in the Premier Division.

With Egremont and Wath Brow not playing – they meet next week at Gillfoot – Kells should enjoy a healthy crowd for their continued fight to climb away from trouble.

Last week’s 20-13 home win against bottom side Myton had followed a narrow success at Wigan St Patrick’s who are next to bottom.

Underbank are just two places and three points better off than Kells ahead of tomorrow’s meeting and travel north on the back of six straight wins.

The last of those victories was a determined one, coming from 16-0 down to second-in-the-table Egremont 34-26 last Saturday.

The Huddersfield side should actually be higher up the table but they had two points recently deducted for fielding an ineligible player in a game against Myton back in April.

Kells coach Peter Smith had advised supporters not to panic when they slipped into the bottom three at the end of the month.

“We had four matches coming up against teams around us in the table. We won the first two and now it’s up to us to get the job done by winning the other two,” he said.

Next week they host Rochdale Mayfield the team immediately below them but four points adrift.

Friday night is proving popular for games in the Iggesund Cumberland ARL with three of the five scheduled fixtures this week-end taking place tonight.

Top of the bill is champions-in-waiting Distington at home to Ellenborough when a win for the hosts would men they cant be overhauled in the table, even if they lost the last two games.

Clubs in the Premier Division play 15 games to complete their League season and Distington are virtually there.

Ellenborough look favourites to finish in third place and will offer a threat if Distington turn up with any complacency in their make-up.

Also on tonight in the Premier Division is the basement clash between Kells A and Glasson Rangers which, in effect, is a battle to avoid the wooden spoon.

Both have two points and each has three games left to play after tonight. It’s expected to be close.

Injury hit Hensingham have seen their title hopes collapse in the last few weeks and they can now only hope they can return to winning ways, hoping for an unlikely Distington slip-up. Tomorrow they host Seaton Rangers.

In Division One Hensingham A entertain Egremont A tonight while tomorrow Flimby host Cockermouth Titans.