Rugby League: Wigan have work cut out

WORKINGTON TOWN are looking forward to a hectic but profitable two weeks after drawing the favourites, Wigan, at home in the quarter-finals of the Regal Trophy. 'The phones have been red-hot since the draw was made with people wanting to know how we are going to allocate tickets,' the Workington secretary, John Bell, said.

The club's Derwent Park ground has a current safety limit of 7,000, but further upgrading work between now and 20 December should raise that capacity.

Workington lie second in the Third Division and had an impressive 34-12 win at Hunslet in the second round on Sunday.

'I can guarantee that we will put up a good performance,' Bell said. 'I have been here since 1981 and the stadium, the strength of the squad and the enthusiasm of the directors are all the best they have been.'

Other ties take Leigh to Hull and the holders, Widnes - whose former Great Britain international, David Hulme, has asked for a transfer - to the winners of next week's replay between Warrington and Bradford. But the outstanding match pits St Helens against Castleford.

The two clubs - second and third in the table respectively - were due to meet at Wheldon Road in the league that weekend. Plans to move that match forward to this Sunday have been scrapped because of objections from Castleford's neighbours, Wakefield and Featherstone, who are both at home that afternoon. The game will now be played on Friday night, in competition with the televised match between Halifax and Wigan.

Bramley last night signed the former Great Britain winger, Des Drummond, on a month's loan with a view to a permanent deal. Drummond, who has been out of the game since falling out with Warrington at the end of last season, will make his debut against London Crusaders on Sunday.

Bramley are also hoping to sign David Niu, a former first-grade scrum-half from St George in Sydney, in time for the match. The French club, Villeneuve, for whom he had been playing, are refusing to grant a clearance because of alleged misdemeanours. Bramley also say that as he was never given clearance to play in France he cannot be blocked by Villeneuve.

Paul Reynolds, the Rochdale centre, has been added to Wales's squad for their match in France on Sunday. Reynolds was born in Warrington after his father, Frank , moved from Aberavon to play league for the town's club.

REGAL TROPHY Third-round draw: St Helens v Castleford; Warrington or Bradford Northern v Widnes; Workington Town v Wigan; Hull v Leigh. (Ties to be played 19-20 December).

FRANCE (v Wales, Perpignan, Sunday): Frisson (Villefranche); Sirvent (St Gaudens), Chamorin (St Esteve), Fages (Pia), Garcia (St Esteve); Dumas (St Gaudens), Demacedo (Avignon); Buttignol (Avignon), Torreilles (Pia), Llong (Catalan), Cabestany (Catalan), Clark (Cannes), Tisseyre (Carcassone). Substitutes: Pech (Limoux), Grandjean (Lezignan), Alesina (Catalan), Despin (Villeneuve).