Last updated 11:47, Friday, 01 August 2008

QUICKSILVER Whitehaven hooker Carl Sice is on his way to Barrow and will make his debut in for a flagging R aiders outfit in tomorrow’s top of the table home clash against Gateshead Thunder.

Craven Park loan: Carl Sice. Below: Kyle Amor who has landed Haven deal

Barrow have signed the mercurial No 9 on a month’s loan in the hope he can put the spark back into the Raiders push towards National League One.

But just as spring-heeled hooker makes the trip down the coast to Craven Park. Whitehaven have brought one of Cumbria’s top amateurs into the Recreation Ground.

He is Kyle Amor, the Hensingham and Great Britain second rower who has had experience playing in Wigan’s Academy side and has been snapped by Whitehaven on a three year deal.

“We’ve have signed Kyle as a first team player. We are now planning for the next three years and I believe he is going to be a big asset to the club.

“The boy has done everything he wants to do in the amateur ranks and the fact that Wigan were interested enough to have him down at the JJB shows how well he is rated. Workington were also very keen on him so we are delighted to have won the race to say the least.”

“Kyle is a tough character, an impressive good defender and I am convinced he has what it takes to become a very good professional footballer.”

Supporters, meanwhile, will have mixed feelings over Sice’s departure to Barrow, albeit just for a month initially.

The Cumbria county hooker was a star at Workington but has had a chequered career since coming to his home town club.

At first he had to play second fiddle to Aaron Lester and then found himself third in the first team pecking order once Graeme Mattinson arrived on the scene.

But even so his opportunism, eye for a gap and speed in open play invariably made him a potential gamebreaker coming off the bench.

Says Ged Stokes: “At this stage I couldn’t offer Carl first team football with Mattinson playing so well and Marc Jackson being deployed as second choice hooker.

“He needs to play first team football and Barrow are delighted to give him that opportunity as they push forward for promotion. Carl wants to grab the chance with both hands.”

Asked whether it could backfire if Marc Jackson, cited by Halifax for allegedly breaking an opponent’s jaw last Sunday, Stokes added: “We have Chris Smith up our sleeves.”

Chairman Gordon Grace said: “I have spoken to Carl and he is more than happy to make the move.”

This morning Haven had heard nothing more from Halifax or the RFL about the alleged incident involving Jackson and are keeping fingers firmly crossed that the matter will soon be closed.