There's Still Life in Rugby League's Traditional Third County

After a crazy week that has done nothing for the sport's credibility, salvation and something approaching sanity emerged in the unlikely form of a Thursday night in Barrow.

There was still the hilarious spectacle of Sky's Bill Arthur and Guardian tipping table leader Barrie McDermott trying to conduct their post-game analysis while a firework display raged a few yards behind them on the Craven Park pitch.

But the match that preceded their commendable efforts to avoid either running for cover or descending into a fit of giggles had been a cracker. A Barrow team led superbly by the veterans Brett McDermott, Mick Cassidy and Darren Holt threatened to pull off an upset against Batley before a late try from their stalwart, Mark Toohey, snatched a 24-20 victory for the quiet achievers of the National League's First Division - who will always be known as the Gallant Youths, surely one of the finest nicknames in sport to go with the equally distinctive traditional colors of cerise and fawn, by this youngish fogey, even though we are now supposed to call them the Bulldogs.

Hopefully Barrow's performance in front of the cameras and an enthusiastic 2,000-plus crowd will also reignite the old argument about whether Cumbria can sustain a Super League club. It's a dreadful shame that none of the 19 applications for one of the three-year licenses that will determine membership of the elite competition from next season has come from British rugby league's traditional third county. Unfortunately neither Barrow nor the fierce local rivals from further up the coast, Whitehaven and Workington, have been able to submit a strong application under their own steam, and there is still no sign of anyone having the courage and imagination to bang enough heads together to form the new Cumbrian club that could be such an asset to the Super League.

One leading Rugby Football League official confirmed to me a couple of years ago that the governing body would be very sympathetic to any such application, comparing the current plight of the game in Cumbria to that in France before the merger between XIII Perpignan and St Esteve formed the Catalans Dragons club who secured a Super League place and have breathed new life into rugby à treize.

Obviously it's too late now to stake a claim for next year, but it would be good to think that nights like Thursday's in Barrow will give someone in Cumbria the encouragement to get cracking ahead of 2011, when the next new licenses will be awarded. The presence of players such as Barrow-born Ade Gardner and White haven's Rob Purdham in the Super League with St Helens and Harlequins respectively shows that the talent is there for a competitive team.

On to this weekend's tips, and Barrie recovered his composure to tip a double for the two Hull clubs against Bradford and Harlequins, and he's also the only man to back Catalans Dragons to continue their four-match unbeaten run in the televised game at Huddersfield. Clean sweeps for St Helens at Dwain Chambers-less Castleford and Leeds against Wigan. As ever, your predictions welcome, and also any thoughts on the future for Cumbria, or the continuing Chambers debacle.

Huddersfield v Catalans Dragons (Friday 7.30pm, Sky) Andy Wilson (Guardian): Giants by 6 Gareth Walker (Guardian): Giants by 10 Dave Lawrenson (Observer): Giants by 8 Barrie McDermott (Sky Sports): Dragons by 6 Rod Studd (Racing Post & Sky Sports): Giants by 10 Dave Woods (BBC 5 Live & Super League Show): Giants by 6

Hull v Bradford (Friday 8pm) Wilson: Hull by 2 Walker: Hull by 4 Lawrenson: Hull by 6 McDermott: Hull by 6 Studd: Bulls by 6 Woods: Bulls by 8

Harlequins v Hull KR (Saturday 3pm) Wilson: Rovers by 8 Walker: Rovers by 4 Lawrenson: Quins by 6 McDermott: Rovers by 6 Studd: Rovers by 4 Woods: Quins by 8

Leeds v Wigan (Saturday 6pm, Sky) Wilson: Rhinos by 16 Walker: Rhinos by 8 Lawrenson: Rhinos by 14 McDermott: Rhinos by 10 Studd: Rhinos by 12 Woods: Rhinos by 4

Castleford v St Helens (Sunday 3.30pm) Wilson: Saints by 10 Walker: Saints by 20 Lawrenson: Saints by 20 McDermott: Saints by 18 Studd: Saints by 20 Woods: Saints by 18

Wakefield Trinity v Warrington (Sunday 3.30pm) Wilson: Wire by 4 Walker: Wire by 2 Lawrenson: Wakey by 8 McDermott: Wakey by 6 Studd: Wakey by 4 Woods: Wakey by 4