Egremont Rangers are hoping to restart their season again when they take on Kells on Saturday in the National Conference League derby.

Rangers have had a tough few weeks after losing several key players to injury but with some of those now starting to return, they are hoping for an upturn in fortunes.

They travel to local premier division rivals Kells on Saturday, ko 2.30pm, with the Whitehaven side sitting in fifth while they remain on the bottom of the pile.

Egremont spokesman John Brocklebank said: “I’m pleased with the way everyone has stuck at it. We entered the Challenge Cup and beat the Army and Wigan St Patrick’s.

“But in each game we lost four players to longer term injuries and some of them are just starting to come back now and that’s why we have struggled.

“But everyone is training hard, we’ve got good numbers and the spirit is still high.”

Egremont recorded their first league win, 32-14 over Pilkington Recs just over a week ago and that was a welcome boost for the club.

“It was mainly due to getting three players back from injury,” said Brocklebank.

“We hoped we could win again at the weekend against Rochdale Mayfield but it just didn’t go our way. We were in the game at half time.

“But this now is like the beginning of our season again. We always love playing against Kells or Wath Brow.

“You never know what will happen in a derby.”

Kells meanwhile go into the game on the back of another good win over Pilkington Recs at the weekend.

That saw them move up to fifth in the table, just two places behind Wath Brow Hornets, who host Rochdale Mayfield on Saturday.

After the Kells v Egremont game there will be a launch for a new book celebrating the life of charismatic scrum-half Arnold ‘Boxer’ Walker.

Both Boxer and the author Mike Gardner will be signing copies of Boxer, The Life Of A Rugby Great, from 4.30pm.