Points at a premium for locals

GOING TO GROUND: Waterhead forward Jordan Pye (with ball)heads for the turf during his side’s narrow Challenge Cup defeat to Castleford Lock Lane.

LEAGUE points are a priority for the three local National Conference League sides this weekend.

Oldham St Anne's, boosted by a vital 15-10 away win at Shaw Cross Sharks last week, are on the road again at Bradford Dudley Hill.

A win for Mick Cashin's men would ensure they stay out of the division one relegation zone. However, an Eastmoor victory at home over Shaw Cross coupled with a St Anne's defeat in West Yorkshire would send the Higginshaw Road side back into the bottom three by Saturday evening.

Saddleworth Rangers remain involved in no less than four different competitions.

But with promotion always being the aim this season, there is no more important match for a club still in the Standard Cup, Challenge Cup and National Cup hunt than that on Saturday, when they face second-placed Ince Rose Bridge at home in division one.

Waterhead, meanwhile, will hope to build on the consecutive narrow cup defeats against Lock Lane, starting with the visit of second-bottom East Leeds in division two.

A DATE has been set for the remaining Standard Cup semi-final to be played out.

The game between Saddleworth Rangers and Oldham St Anne's is to take place on Wednesday, February 11 (7.15pm kick off), at Rangers' Shaw Hall Bank Road base.

The two sides do battle for the right to take on Waterhead in the final, which this year has been brought forward to the more traditional date of Good Friday, April 10 (11am).

Rochdale Cobras, who publicly apologised following the failure to fulfil their last four tie against Waterhead, have been handed a modest fine by the Oldham Amateur RL for the no-show.