By Julian Shea

Rugby's most famous trophy is the lure for Skirlaugh and Wath Brow

With all the coverage given to Super League's southward expansion this season, rugby league north of the game's traditional Lancashire/Yorkshire heartland could be forgiven for feeling a bit overlooked.

But Wath Brow Hornets will be proudly flying the flag for Cumbrian rugby this weekend as they become the latest team to join the BBC Sport website's Road to Wembley 2006, for Saturday's trip to Skirlaugh.

Wath Brow enter this year's Challenge Cup at the second round stage, after a first-round walkover against Castleford Panthers.

The side from the western part of the Lake District have an impressive Cup pedigree, and last year made history as the first amateur club to play outside Britain in the Cup, as they lost to eventual semi-finalists Toulouse.

But even before that, the Hornets' name was already in the record books several times, as coach Ian Rooney is quick to point out.

Skirlaugh are a very good side, always very organised and well coached Wath Brow's Ian Rooney

"This club holds the record for the fewest points conceded by an amateur side against a pro side, the most points scored against a pro side, and Mark Jackson became the only amateur to win Man of the Match in a fourth round match when we played London a few years ago," he told BBC Sport.

Cumbrian rugby has a proud heritage, with three professional sides and famous amateur sides like Kells and Egremont in the county.

In the last two seasons, Whitehaven have topped National League One, only to miss out on a place in Super League by losing the Grand Final, and Wath Brow have done their bit for local pride by winning the National Cup for the last two years.

And the team they beat in last year's final was.... Skirlaugh.

"We played them in the 1999 Final, where they won heavily (32-2), and again last year when we sneaked past them, but they're a very good side, always very organised and well coached," says Rooney.

Talking to his opposite number at Skirlaugh, Colin Brown, it appears there is something of a mutual admiration society between the teams, and both teams seem to be looking forward to Saturday's clash.

"Wath Brow are a great club - whenever we've been there, they can't do enough to help you and take care of you," he said.

That even continued after Skirlaugh's Cup final win in 1999.

"They were supposed to be the best team in the country, and thought they'd played all the good teams to get to the final," he said.

"But we went over to Cumbria and thumped them - to do it on their muck was great. And even after the final, we all went out on the town together in Whitehaven."

We're looking forward to having Wath Brow over here again - and hopefully beating them Skirlaugh's Colin Brown

Many of Wath Brow's Cup winning side of last season have now moved on, and Skirlaugh are also likely to field an inexperienced side on Saturday.

If form is anything to go by, it will be a close match.

"We've played them twice in the National Conference League this season, and both games have been away wins," said Brown.

"And we're playing them again in the National Cup next week!

"Most of the teams at this level have been in the same league for a few years, so you make friends with your opponents.

"It's always good football when you play Wath Brow, never dirty.

"We're looking forward to having them over here again - and hopefully beating them!".