THEY are a club with an illustrious past but Pilkington Recs, a growing force at the top of amateur rugby league once again, are hoping to write a new chapter in their history on Saturday afternoon (2.30pm).

The red, amber and blacks have secured permission from the Rugby Football League to stage their third round Challenge Cup tie against semi-professional side London Skolars at their Ruskin Drive home.

The club are believed to have had the option of using Langtree Park but were keen to keep home advantage as they aim to pull off a cup shock against the Championship 1 outfit – and hope the town’s rugby league supporters will turn out to cheer them on.

Recs’ talented young coach Kurt Haggerty, the Bradford Bulls player who has led the team to three consecutive promotions to the National Conference top flight, said: “Skolars will be a very good challenge for us and a test competing against a semi-professional outfit.

“A home tie is what we wanted especially against a professional side.

“It’s been a massive effort by everybody at the club and especially our club secretary Billy Dillon to get the game to be played our home ground Ruskin Drive.

“It will be a great occasional for the club, players and everybody involved.

“Hopefully there will be a big crowd on to support the lads and you never know what can happen with the magic of the cup.”

Recs stalwart Dillon, meanwhile, added: “The support we’ve had from the rugby league community in St Helens over the past week has been tremendous.

“I’d particularly like to thank Mike Rush and Steve Leonard from Saints for their help with preparations.”