Hollinwood appeal for new recruits

HOLLINWOOD ARLC boss Fred Halliwell has issued an SOS for new players, warning that the club may not yet start the season without a fresh influx.

Lee Bayliss, coach of the Fields New Road-based Pennine League side, has been reduced to numbers of five or six at training sessions as players leak away to join rival clubs in the area.

“It is as bad a situation as I have known in more than 30 years,” admitted Halliwell, who has seen captain Paul Brooks and full-back Rob Penswick recently leave to join Higginshaw.

“Lee is really keen but it is easy to start getting disillusioned when people are chatting in our players’ ears about going to other clubs.

“Hopefully with a number of players being on holiday we will have bigger numbers at training soon, but we would also argue that playing first-team rugby here is a far better option than standing on the sidelines watching at another club who have plenty to pick from.”

Hollinwood training sessions take place at Fields New Road, Chadderton, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7pm onwards.


HIGGINSHAW’S pre-season preparations received a boost as the side coached by Aidy Brown and David Sweeney defeated North-West Counties League rivals Cadishead 26-16.

Sweeney, the assistant player-coach who last season picked up the Rugby Oldham Challenge ‘Man of Steel’ award, scored a hat-trick of tries and was named as Higgy’s top performer in the friendly.

The team has brought in a number of new recruits ahead of a division four campaign in which the target is promotion — a big turnaround from when Brown and Sweeney took over last season with the team propping up the table.

Paul Brooks (half-back, Hollinwood), Rob Penswick (full-back, Hollinwood), Chris Whitehead (prop, unattached), Adam Horabin (utility, Waterhead), Lee Branham (centre, unattached) and new-to-the-sport winger Gary Colman have all joined the ranks of a 22-man squad, with former Oldham St Anne’s official Tony O’Donnell the new first-team manager.

Off the field, Higginshaw are pushing ahead with the redevelopment of the clubhouse which was purchased from St Stephen’s Church last year and new committee members have been appointed to aid the project.

A new website has been launched at www.higginshawarlfc.com  


OLDHAM St Anne’s came away from their long pre-season trip to National Conference League premier division side Wath Brow with a morale-boosting 12–12 draw.

Playing fast, open rugby, Saints — aiming to bounce back from relegation to division two — gave their opponents plenty to think about.

Trailing 12-4 at half-time after leading through a Lee Forsythe try, the visitors got back on terms after the break through unconverted efforts from Dane English and Dave Harris. Debutant Daniel Chrimes in the second row showed up well and Danny Kay caused havoc at the ruck, as did backs Jordan White and Steve McHugh.


A CHALLENGE Cup final brunch has been organised to take place at Chadderton FC, with former Roughyeds captain Robert Roberts the guest speaker.

Starting at 11.30am, the event comprises a full English breakfast, bingo, a raffle, an auction and a question-and-answer session before the game between Huddersfield Giants and Warrington Wolves at Wembley.

Tickets are available from Braddy on 07894 122315.