Wibsey Juniors' under-18 team travel across the Pennines on Sunday in a bid to become the first Bradford club to win the BARLA National Cup.

After narrowly missing out on the Yorkshire Cup in January, the teenagers, backed by coachloads of family and friends, are determined to win the sport's blue riband trophy for junior clubs.

The final is being held at Sedgeley Park's rugby union ground, Swinton.

Wibsey are coached by former Wyke player Rob Hustler, former Bradford and Keighley professional Colin Robinson and Ian Baker. The team manager is Ian Dunne.

Hustler said: "This team has been together since the under-eights. We have coached them all the way through.

"It is a fantastic achievement to reach this final. We got to the final of the Yorkshire Cup at the Boulevard but West Hull beat us in the ninth minute of injury-time.

"On Sunday we play Leigh Miners Rangers, who are favourites, but I don't see why we can't win. We are determined to have a real crack at it. The lads are pumped up - it's a real War of the Roses."

Wibsey have been in impressive form on their run-in to the big day, beating Ince Road Bridge (Wigan), Wigan St Patricks, Castleford Panthers and Oulton Raiders.

All the ties were away from home and beating Wigan St Patricks was particularly impressive. Their first team is coached by Andy Gregory and the junior side has produced players like Joe Lydon and Martin Hall.

But Wibsey are also making a name for themselves in the rugby world. Three of their players - Andrew Robinson, Liam Martin and Luke Helliwell -

represented Yorkshire against Lancashire last Saturday.

The club also have two players, Gareth Chambers and Luke Helliwell, on

scholarships with the Bulls, and four players are training with Wakefield Wildcats - Wibsey's skipper Andrew Robinson, Liam Martin, Adam Wright and Nathan Hadfield.

"The bigger clubs are certainly coming to watch our lads play now. There will be a lot of scouts from professional clubs at the final on Sunday," said Hustler.

"All our teams play in the West Riding Youth league. We have around 200 boys and girls playing in our ten sides. We are the biggest junior club in the area."

Wibsey, which has only been going for 13 years, are always on the look-out for new players.

"We can take players and make them a lot better players," said Hustler. "We train twice a week and in the summer we train on Saturdays on grass."