COUGARS are staying overnight in Cumbria to prepare for Sunday's game against Whitehaven.

The team is to hold a 'weekend camp', with a training session on Saturday followed by an early morning run out on Sunday, to make sure they are fully prepared for the afternoon's game.

Coach Karl Harrison said: "Whitehaven are a very good side, well coached by Kavin Tamati, and in Colin Armstrong they have a player in the mould of Leigh's Tim Street. We will have to watch him closely if we are to win the game."

Jason Ramshaw and Matt Foster are still out of action with knee and ankle injuries, and the club also picked up more injuries during last weekend's victory over Sheffield Eagles.

"Richard Smith has a slight hamstring strain and Craig Horne has an achilles problem, but hopefully they will be able to play," says Karl.

"I was also hoping to play Graeme Hallas, he is now in full training but I'm not sure if he will be fully fit in time. To cover I've drafted Max Tomlinson into the squad."

Martin Wood will not be joining the rest of the party as they travel up for the match. His wife is expecting a baby and he does not want to leave her. He has been given permission to join the rest of the squad on Sunday morning, unless his wife is about to give birth.

"Of course Woody and his expected arrival is a worry, but I can always switch Dean Hanger to stand-off if necessary," Karl Harrison said.

n Cougar coach Karl Harrison appeared on BBC's Look North programme last night when Cougar Park appeared in a televised piece about Leeds United's build-up to their UEFA Cup game.

"I just happened to mention my allegiance to the Mighty Whites to a colleague and the Beeb wanted to do a short piece that linked up with my role here at Cougars and as a fan at Elland Road," he said.

"It all helps to give us a higher profile in the community, but now I am waiting to see if Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale was watching -- and if I'll get an upgraded seat!"

n There was a superb turn out for last week's Supporters Forum at the club, when Karl Harrison and managing director Peter Rowe were on hand to answer questions.

"There were some very sensible questions, and I hope the fans went away with a better understanding of what we are trying to achieve. We'll definitely be holding another forum, probably in about six weeks time," he said.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.