WHEN: November 15, 1986.

WHERE: Devonshire Road, Millom.

A DOUBLE-header of county clashes between Cumbria and Lancashire at Millom this afternoon are ones for rugby league afficionados in the area to savour, although Devonshire Road is no stranger to hosting big matches.

Arguably one of the most memorable games to be staged there happened just under 32 years ago, when Millom – then one of the foremost amateur clubs in the country – gave professionals Wakefield Trinity a scare in the John Player Special Trophy.

The Woolybacks had earned the right to test themselves against professional opposition in the RFL’s secondary cup competition by virtue of reaching the final of the BARLA National Cup the previous season, where they were edged out 17-8 by Hull outfit Mysons.

Coached by Ron Jackson, the the team featured some of the cream of the area’s amateur players, including BARLA international Andrew ‘Biff’ Mossop and brother Clive, Graham and John Lupton, Garry Kelly and Jim Bawden, who was regarded by some pundits as one of the finest players never to turn professional.

When the draw for the preliminary round of the 1986/87 competition was made, Millom could hardly have asked for a better tie after being handed a home clash with Wakefield.

Jackson’s men would have undoubtedly fancied their chances of causing an upset too, with Championship side Trinity in the midst of a torrid season which eventually ended with relegation.

Indeed, they made the trip to Cumbria in November having yet to record a win in the league, while several thousand packed the sidelines at Devonshire Road, where two temporary stands were erected for extra supporters.

But while fellow amateurs Mysons did manage to overcome professional opposition by winning 8-2 at Batley, before falling 18-11 to Swinton in the next round, Millom went down 18-4 despite battling hard.

As Evening Mail correspondent Tony Johnson reflected at the time though, it may have been different had the hosts not had Mike O’Brien sent off after just 13 minutes for a high tackle.

Despite being a man down, the match was just 6-0 to the visitors at half time thanks to a converted score from John Lyons and it was not until after the restart that Australian winger Russell Klein settled a few Wakefield nerves with an unconverted try, followed by Lions getting his second.

However, Millom hit back from the restart when Tim Holmes took the ball, evaded two defenders and sprinted 95 metres for an unconverted try in the corner.

But an injury to Biff Mossop left the host down to 11 and Ian Hopkinson added a late fourth.

Millom, who had Mark Roskell chosen as man of the match, were cheered off the pitch by the thousands watching though, who were proud of the team’s efforts.