Celebration dinner will hail three anniversaries

RUGBY: THIS year is a special one for the rugby league fraternity in Oldham, for it marks the anniversary of three significant events with strong town connections.

All three landmark anniversaries are now set to be celebrated at a special gala dinner organised by Rugby Oldham to be staged at the White Hart, Lydgate on October 3.

It’s 30 years since the 1984 Great Britain Rugby League tour to Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, which included five Oldham players – Ray Ashton, Terry Flanagan, Des Foy, Andy Goodway and Mick Worrall.

It was a record for the club, with the tour under the leadership of the then-Oldham coach, Frank Myler.

And it is 100 years since the famous “Rorkes Drift” Test match was played against Australia at the Sydney cricket ground.

Having been pressured by the Australian RL authorities to play a third, and deciding, Test match within eight days, in spite of an appalling injury list, the British team was told by Rugby League headquarters that “every man should do his duty”.

Unsurprisingly they did, and won 14-6. Three Oldham players were in the British team – centre Billy Hall, forward Dave Holland and full-back Alf Wood, whose four goals added to a magnificent defensive effort that proved to be vital in tipping the scales in Britain’s favour.

Finally, it is 125 years since the first match was played at Watersheddings on September 28, 1889.

The match against Swinton resulted in victory for the visitors, but over the next 108 years the Roughyeds would register many famous victories on that hallowed turf.

Tickets for the evening, which will include a top quality three-course dinner, are £25. Email: geoff.cooke0454@ntlworld.com for details.