Rangers out to repeat glory days

DANNY ADAMS: Back in contention for Saddleworth.

SADDLEWORTH Rangers are aiming to feed on past glories when their BARLA National Cup campaign kicks off tomorrow.

Mick Coates, coach of all-conquering Rangers when they won the competition three years out of four in the early 1990s, will be on hand to inspire the present day team as they travel to face Eccles and Salford Juniors in the second round (2pm kick off). Saddleworth got a bye through the first stage.

“We have told the players that whatever level of rugby you play at, you don’t get many chances to play in cup competitions,” said Rangers coach Keith Brennan.

“The National Cup means a lot, particularly with Saddleworth’s history of success in it.

“It will be tough over there and we have to be on the ball.”

Brennan warns against reading too much into the current position of Eccles, who sit fourth-bottom of National Conference League division two following their relegation last year.

But though he feels Rangers are in for a test, they are boosted by the return of four players.

Liam Coates and Matt Bottom, both out with broken jaws, are fit again and available for selection, while Danny Atherton and Danny Adams both come into contention after returning from the Police World Cup in Australia.

Adams could well end up playing two games within 48 hours, as he has been named in the BARLA Great Britain under-21s squad for the game against a Combined Services Academy team at Post Office Road, Featherstone, on Sunday.

Oldham St Anne’s have what on paper appears to be a daunting task, taking on NCL premier division table-toppers Leigh Miners Rangers at home in the second round of the BARLA National Cup (2pm).

But for coach Mick Cashin, the game is being seen as an opportunity as much as anything else.

“We are looking forward to it and it is a great chance to test ourselves,” said Cashin, who must do without the services of unavailable loose forward Phil Jagger.

Other than that, a two-week break from action has left Saints with no injury worries and a 22-man squad to select from.

Waterhead won’t play their round two match this weekend.

Mick Slicker’s side are down to play the winners of the first round encounter between Leigh central and Guiseley, away from home.

But that game was abandoned after just one minute due to a serious injury last week and is being played out tomorrow instead, leaving the Peach Road side without a fixture.