After a month off, West

Bowling resume their battle for a promotion spot to the flagship National Conference League Premier Division tomorrow.

And Wests are at full strength for the Division One clash against Askam at the Bankfoot Oval.

Wests are hoping to post a double against the Cumbrian visitors following their 20-16 away success in early October.

Bowling are level on 20 points alongside Eastmoor and West Hull and just three points adrift of leaders Ince Rose Bridge in what is developing into one of the closest- run competitions for many years.

l Super League new boys Catalans Dragons have agreed a settlement with sacked coach Steve Deakin.

Former Keighley Cougars coach Deakin, who was dismissed a week before Christ-mas after reportedly losing the confidence of the players, did not have a contract with the French club and instead operated on a gentleman's agreement with president Bernard Guasch.

"It was just a matter of them sitting down together," said Dragons chief executive Grant Mayor.

"It was done very quickly and amicably and Steve has now returned to England."

Caretaker coaches Matt Adamson and Paul Donkin took training when the players reported back for pre-season training this week while the club continue the search for a successor to Deakin.

The only absentee is star signing Stacey Jones, the New Zealand Test scrum half who was given permission to delay his arrival until Monday because of a family wedding.

Meanwhile, the Catalans have signed up five kit sponsors for the new season, including the Mairie de Perpignan, and are still in negotiations for a major shirt sponsorship.

"This is a very important day for the club as we edge closer to our debut season in Super League," said Mayor.

"There is a real buzz around the club at the moment and the announcement of these sponsors adds to the enthusiasm for the game in the Catalan region."

The Dragons open their campaign against Wigan in Perpignan on February 11.