Waterhead aim to bounce back

WATERHEAD are looking to plug the gaps as their new National Conference League division two season gets underway.

A home match against Leeds outfit Milford Marlins (2.30pm) kicks things off for head coach Mick Slicker and company as the Peach Road side begin a campaign to bounce back from relegation.

Things looked promising, performance-wise, in a 32-22 friendly defeat at premier division Siddal last weekend.

Unfortunately, Paul Bennett aggravated a shoulder injury in that game which keeps him out for the season opener, while Keiron Grennan dislocated a thumb.

Not ideal preparation, especially given that Waterhead are already without the services of a retired front row in the shape of Tommy Howe, Martin Bunce and hooker Chris McAndrew, but the coach is still hopeful.

“You have to look at the positives and it gives our youngsters a chance to stake a claim,” said Slicker, who will hand a chance to impressive under-18s starlet Jordan Pye.


OLDHAM St Anne’s coach Mick Cashin, who has Chris Deakin back alongside him in the dugout for the new season, is looking forward to the start of a division one season in which he is hoping for further development from the younger players in the squad.

“We are looking to improve again, as we did in the run-in towards the end of last season,” said Cashin, who has experienced men Jason Best and Rick Badby back in the squad for the visit to Widnes St Marie’s (2.30pm).

“We have got quite a big squad together and have the lads back from the reserves at Oldham and Rochdale.”

Following this weekend’s games, the Conference has a break before for the Carnegie Challenge Cup final weekend, before returning seven days later.

That is when Saddleworth Rangers will start their league season with a division one away game at Shaw Cross Sharks. The first local derby of the 2008-09 season takes place when St Anne’s travel to face Rangers on Saturday, September 13.