West Cumbrian clubs look certain to continue with amateur rugby league in the summer.

An initial vote by clubs attached to the grassroots with the Cumbria Men’s League and Cumberland ARL was in favour of summer rugby continuing.

There were notable exceptions, with Broughton Red Rose and Flimby particularly keen on changing the playing season.

The matter will be looked at again early next month, when particular thought will be given to matches played in July and August.

These two months appear to attract the most postponements and force clubs to field weakened teams.

The local decision to stick with summer comes at the same time as the National Conference has underlined its commitment to the summer.

West Hull had asked for a meeting to discuss the whole issue of playing summer or winter – but that meeting was postponed.

It appears West Hull only had one letter of support for their views.

Conference chairman Trevor Hunt said: “We were never going to debate the time in which we play. We are a summer league and Wests have had only one response to their request for other clubs’ views, so we saw little point in having delegates travel all the way to Leigh.

“We are, as a management group, discussing several issues and are putting together a club survey. We need, at this stage, much more information to support any proposals that may be made.”

The National Conference season is moving towards a climax and tomorrow Wath Brow take centre stage. They will host Rochdale Mayfield in the elimination semi-final.

League winners Siddal entertain runners-up Thatto Heath in the qualifying semi-final.

Rochdale Mayfield have proved a bogey team to Cumbrian clubs in the past, especially this season.

They earned doubles over both Kells and Egremont, while they beat Wath Brow in Rochdale.

The only point they dropped came in a feisty 18-18 draw at Wath Brow back in May.

In the aftermath of that game, a Rochdale Mayfield player was banned until March next year for what was described as a cowardly attack on a West Cumbrian forward.

Graeme Mattinson, the former Whitehaven and Workington Town hooker, back with his old amateur side Wath Brow Hornets, was knocked-out in the incident.

As a result, the National Conference Disciplinary committee suspended Mayfield substitute Seta Taala for nine months.

Hopefully, there will be nothing of the sort At Red Beck tomorrow, and instead an expected bumper crowd will be treated to some exciting, open rugby.