Kay tops bill for St Anne’s

DANNY Kay's man-of-the-match performance for Oldham St Anne's at the weekend took him to joint top of the Man of Steel standings.

The 24-year-old hooker has enjoyed a good season with the Higginshaw Road club and joins team-mate Lee Forsythe and Higginshaw captain David Hewson at the top of the current table with three nominations.

A £500 cheque will be presented to the overall top dog at the end of the season.

Last year's competition was won jointly by Saddleworth Rangers half-back pair Michael Coates and Chris Garforth.

"Danny has been great for us and not only as acting half-back," said Saints coach Mick Cashin. "He also brings a lot to us in terms of defence."

As far as the six-team Rugby Oldham Challenge goes, Saddleworth Rangers continue to lead the way thanks to their 36-10 win at Normanton Knights in National Conference League division one.

St Anne's lost 23-16 at home to Eastmoor Dragons, a game in which Forsythe fractured an ankle — the latest on that is that the damage isn't too serious and he should be back in just over a month — meaning Waterhead, without a game at the weekend, stay in second spot just behind Rangers.

Rochdale Cobras, whose North-West Counties division six match at Hindley was postponed, are now level on points with St Anne's, with Hollinwood and Higginshaw filling the bottom two places.

Man-of-the-match awards in the 2008-09 season so far —

Three: Danny Kay, Lee Forsythe (both Oldham St Anne's), David Hewson (Higginshaw).

Two: Kiel Lancashire, Andrew Cheetham (St Anne's); Alan Williamson, Terry Fitzgerald (Waterhead); Tom Lever, Michael Coates (Saddleworth Rangers); Gareth Brindley (Higginshaw); Alistair Williams (Hollinwood).

One: Jason Best, Rick Badby, Alex Eyres (all St Anne's); Jimmy Kirkland, Will Schofield, Leon Wilkes, Nick Johnson (Waterhead); Matthew Bottom, Jimmy Rogers, Stephen Nield, Fraser Coley, Emerson Jackman, Adam Walker (Saddleworth); Gary Walsh, Paul Turner, David Sweeney (Higginshaw); Matthew McCullough, Mick Wilson, Ian Hunt, Pete Jackson, Darren Cooper, John Byrom (Hollinwood); Gareth Hutchins, Danny Catlow, Damian Corcoran, Adam Butterworth, Gareth Wood, Ben Boothman (Rochdale Cobras).