WELL that's the end of the line (excuse the pun) for us in the Arriva Trains Cup this year.

I feel the competition has been very successful and has produced some cracking games. rumour on the grapevine is that Arriva are very pleased with how the event has gone and the publicity they have gained, and their support is due to continue next year.

The competition has been a great 'warm up' for the league and it has allowed coaches the opportunity to try out different playing combinations before the league programme kicks in, let's hope it's here next season.

MICK DURHAM made quite an impact in his first appearance with Peter Roe's Swinton Lions.

I spoke to Roey on Monday and he was very pleased with Dundee's efforts. Mick played his first 80 minutes for several months at loose forward and topped the Lions tackle count in a typical tireless performance.

But Peter's a little concerned about Mick's sense of direction. Apparently on his first trip over to Swinton he went round Manchester's orbital motorway - the M60 - three times while trying to negotiate the Swinton turn off!

Strewth Mick, surely m-Manchester's a piece of cake compared to the great Outback.

Rumours you may have heard of current Leeds Rhino's captain and Great Britain player Kevin Sinfield paying a visit to Cougar Park are true.

Kev is the brother of our Ian Sinfield and he agreed to take time out from his build-up to the Challenge Cup final next week to present the Cougar Scholarship Awards.

The scholarship is proving very successful, there are dozens of very talented youngster in the area and they have worked extremely hard under the watchful eyes of Jason Ramshaw and Jeremy Crowther. Well done to everyone involved.

PS: I saw Neil Spencer taking Kevin into the boardroom to ask for his autograph. I tried slipping a contract under his pen, but it didn't work.

It's probably just as well, it would only have upset Rammy, now he's wearing the No13 shirt.