Amateur RL: Parkside aiming to defy odds on Grand Final day

Hunslet, who have reached the final after knocking out holders Leigh Miners Rangers, Leigh East, Thatto Heath Crusaders and then Milford Marlins in the semi-final, will be backed by four coaches of supporters. Hunslet will wait until just before kick off before finalising their line-up with a couple of players carrying knocks, but will be without prop Adam Biscomb who is getting married at kick-off time. Hunslet’s only other absentees from the squad are captain Jamie Bradley and Sam Thorpe, who are both still recovering from season-ending injuries. “Reaching the final from Division 2 has been a real achievement for the club and win or lose the celebrations are sure to go on long into the night once the players and supporters return to Leeds on Saturday evening,” said club spokesman Paul Thorpe. Elsewhere, community club fixtures are few and far between tomorrow owing to the Super League Grand Final, but a handful of National Conference teams do have a chance to steal a march on their rivals. In Division One, Featherstone Lions face a fourth-v-third tussle with Humberside outfit Skirlaugh, who hold a two-point advantage over Saturday’s host club. Skirlaugh also have a game in hand (and two on leaders Thatto Heath), so can afford to slip up, though Lions won’t be taking that for granted. Victory for Featherstone would consolidate their top-four status and also nudge them ahead of Leeds-based rivals Milford Marlins. Neighbours Normanton Knights – currently sixth in Division One – entertain Ince Rose Bridge. On paper, this should go down as a victory for Knights, but 10th-placed Rose are sure to have other ideas, though the teams are separated on the league ladder by eight points. The final fixture of Saturday’s limited schedule sees second-placed Myton Warriors in action against basemend side Elland. Elland have struggled to make an impact this year with only one victory from 24 outings, and Myton will obviously start clear favourites for this fixture, though Featherstone, Skirlaugh and Normanton will all be hoping the West Yorkshire side does them a surprise favour.