Published at 11:07, Thursday, 14 June 2012

WATH Brow starlet Charlie Tomlinson has been named skipper of the BARLA Emerging Lions squad for the forthcoming tour to the Czech Republic.

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He will be joined in the Under-17s squad by Hornets team-mate Jamie Phillips, Ben Milburn and Connor Holliday, both of Kells, and Cockermouth pair Matty Henson and Sean Mumberson.

Dalton’s Matty Heaton and Tom Goffat complete the Cumbrian contingent.

Tomlinson has already forced his way in to Wath Brow’s first-team, and Lions’ assistant coach Chris Fisher, the Glasson No 2, revealed it was an easy decision to name him tour captain.

“From the first training session he led everybody about the park and mixed really well with everyone,” Fisher said. “It was a bit of a no-brainer.

“He has been playing scrum-half in a Conference Premier team, and you have to give a lot of credit to Ian Rooney and the lads at Wath Brow who have brought him on. Jamie Phillips was called in at the last minute as we extended the size of the squad because an extra game was added, so he benefited from that.”

Mumberson was not initially thought to be in the reckoning for a call-up but forced his way in after enjoying a storming 80 minutes at hooker in the county championship opener, when Henson was unavailable.

“He has a top class attitude,” added Fisher. “Credit to Cumbria that we have so many players in the squad. We are competing every year in the county championship and it’s testament to the quality of lads the clubs are producing.”

Fisher also praised the county committee’s Kenny Millican and county Under-17 manager Joe Elliott for their major roles in Cumbria’s success at the age group.

The Lions have added a 9s tournament to their tour, which opens with the first of two Tests against the Czechs on June 28

COCKERMOUTH prop Johnny Goulding was set to turn out for BARLA Great Britain Under-23s in Jamaica on Wednesday – three months after his season looked to be over.

Goulding had been earmarked for the tour before dislocating and fracturing his ankle in the Cumberland League opener against Maryport. But having not played since the injury he believed himself out of contention when he took a phone call from the GB coach shortly before the tour launch telling him another player had pulled out. The following day he passed a fitness test and was told he was on the plane.

“It was only a week or 10 days before the tour, so really short notice, but he was over the moon that he could go,” said Paul Henson, Cockermouth chairman.

“When he got the injury he didn’t think there was any chance whatsoever. He had still been doing weight training, but when he found out he did a lot of running and cycling.

“Paul West, at Intrim, in Workington, really put him through his paces, and he’s really grateful.

“He won’t be match-fit as he hasn’t played any rugby, but he’s got himself kind-of right. He’s young and brave, and never takes a backward step. Once he has five minutes on the field he’ll be spot-on.”

Scrum-half Ross Gainford of Kells, and centre Clayton Sutton both touched down in the 52-10 win against Jamaica at the weekend, his Egremont team-mate and playmaker John Paul Brocklebank, the tour captain, adding four goals.

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk