St Anne’s facing knockout relief

ANDY WALLACE: The St Anne’s man (with ball) was sent off last week but is available for tomorrow’s Wigan test.

OLDHAM St Anne's are looking to put their league woes behind them to put in another strong home performance against higher-level opposition tomorrow.

Mick Cashin's relegation threatened men square off against National Conference League premier division side Wigan St Jude's in the Carnegie Challenge Cup preliminary round (1.30pm).

In the all-amateur competition opener, Saints could hardly have asked for a tougher test. But with a creditable, battling performance in a 18-12 defeat to local rivals Saddleworth Rangers last weekend adding to an outstanding National Cup triumph seven days earlier over Leigh Miners Rangers — a side currently top, six places above the Wigan outfit in the premier league table — there remains a positivity around the squad despite their occupying a third-bottom spot in division one.

Cashin is certainly pleased with the effort level of late, despite poor second-half discipline in conceding penalties which led to five Rangers goals last week.

"It was nip and tuck and I think we could still have won that game, even at the end with 11 men," he said, referring to the sending off of loose forward Andy Wallace — available this weekend — and the late sin-binning of Kiel Lancashire, who joined Rangers counterpart Matt Bottom on the sidelines.

"This one will be tough but is gives us another good marker to see where we are up to."

Peter Deakin may make a return in the pack but there are slight doubts over Dominic Igoe and Martin Ryan, two of a crop of very promising Saints forwards.

Else where in the preliminary round, Saddleworth Rangers once again do knockout battle with NCL division two side Eccles and Salford Juniors when making the short trip to Schofield Grove (1.30pm).

Rangers coach Keith Brennan, who saw his side win 22-14 against the same opposition at the same venue three weeks ago, will hope his forwards are on form once again.

"Our pack was absolutely outstanding against St Anne's and they had to be," said Brennan.

"We made problems for ourselves giving them territory with knock-ons and things like that, but we made good yards when we had the ball and stopped them when they had it.

"Jason Best went well on his return and it must have been tough for him going back there.

"With him and people like Matt Bottom — I don't think I have seen a prop with more talent with his hands — and Adam Walker we have plenty of firepower in the forwards."

Waterhead, already assured of a place in the first round proper of the competition having been handed a bye, are in action instead in the second round of the BARLA National Cup.

Mick Slicker's side are away at Leigh Central Lions of North-West Counties League division four (2pm) and will expect to progress to join St Anne's and Saddleworth in the third round draw, which is made this weekend.

In games that count towards the Rugby Oldham Challenge, Higginshaw are at home to Waterhead 'A' in North-West Counties League division four (2pm), while Hollinwood play away at Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks in Pennine League division four (2pm).