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by ROGER HALSTEAD
 
ACCORDING to reports in West Cumbria, Whitehaven's new coach Ged Stokes has caused a bit of a stir among the Marras by handing youngster Marc Bainbridge the vital scrum-half role in the side to play Oldham at Boundary Park this Sunday (3pm kick off) in the Northern Rail Cup.
 
The vastly experienced Leroy Joe wore No 7 in the Cumbrians' narrow 32-28 defeat at Widnes last Sunday -- they led 18-4 at one stage -- but Stokes has marked his first game in charge by calling up the 20-year-old from the reserves for his opening first-team game of the season.
 
Bainbridge made three first-team appearances in the whole of last term, but only one in the league, though he was a leading player in the club's academy under-21s side.
 
Stressing that the new kid on the block had been selected on merit, Stokes said: "I have every faith in him to come through. He will give it 100 per cent. I've seen him play several times against Workington (Stokes's former club) and he has done very well. Once he gets on the field it's up to him.
 
"I will put out every week what I consider to be our strongest team. I don't think at this level there's any chance to experiment, except in pre-season. You've got to get your best players out there all the time."
 
Carl Rudd was Leroy Joe's half-back partner in the Widnes game. Apparently, both have impressed Stokes and both will feature at Boundary Park, though it would appear Bainbridge will wear No 7 and start the game in that position.
 
Another half-back, stand-off Liam Finch, missed the Widnes game after suffering a broken knuckle in the Easter Monday defeat by Batley. But he trained on Tuesday -- Stokes's first session -- and he may be back in the running for a return to the 17.
 
The Haven team at Widnes was Gary Broadbent; Craig Calvert, Sala Makisi, Rob Jackson, Ade Adebisi; Carl Rudd, Leroy Joe; Ryan McDonald, Graeme Mattinson, Karl Edmonson, Spencer Miller, Richard Fletcher, Scott McAvoy. Subs: Carl Sice, Derry Eilbeck, Howard Hill, David Ford.