By Martin Morgan

Published at 11:26, Wednesday, 17 June 2009

CHAIRMAN Alan Tucker hopes Carlisle Centurions’ 17-try thumping by league leaders Bramley Buffaloes at the weekend marks a turning point for the amateur club – as it was for his former club 23 years ago.

Tucker was in his first season in the chair at pro outfit Carlisle Border Raiders in 1986 when they went down to a 112-0 hammering at St Helens in a Lancashire Cup tie.

The Raiders had opened the year with three defeats from four games, drawing the other against perennial strugglers Runcorn.

And new coach Roy Lester took the brave option ahead of the trip to Knowsley Road to drop players he felt lacked commitment. After Saints ran up a century, Raiders bucked up their ideas and finished the season on a high.

Tucker recalled: “Carlisle recovered their season well, won more than they lost and finished the season in eighth position.”

Saturday’s 94-0 defeat at Bramley was new Centurions’ coach Dennis Bibby’s first game in charge, and he was forced to travel to West Yorkshire with a weakened team.

“He felt very positive, and that the lads rose to the occasion,” said Tucker. “It’s a learning curve, and lessons were learned.”

Saturday sees the visit to Gillford Park of Nottingham Outlaws.

Carlisle: Ellis Little, Aiden Day, Tom Armstrong, James Sanderson, Craig Atkinson, George Graham, Craig Brierley, Ryan Johnson, Carl Barnes, Sean Richardson, James Field, Tony Palmer, Gary Graham. Subs: Steve Potter, Dennis Bibby.

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