Rangers sending out a message

SADDLEWORTH Rangers aim to send out a signal to the rest of National Conference League division one by beating Ince Rose Bridge on home territory tomorrow (2.30pm kick off).

Keith Brennan’s men have progressed to the fourth round of the BARLA National Cup and the second round of the Carnegie Challenge Cup in recent weeks, but the bread and butter of the season is the campaign to win promotion.

Rose Bridge are currently second — five points ahead of Rangers, having played two games more — and a win at their Greenfield base could haul Brennan’s side as high up as fifth.

However, to do so they will need to lift their game from the levels it reached at times during the Challenge Cup 36-12 win at division two strugglers Hull Isberg.

“We didn’t play so well in the first half but got going after the break,” said Brennan, who could have Matt Bottom back in contention for a place.

Waterhead coach Mick Slicker expects to make few changes to the side which ran Castleford Lock Lane so close for the second week running in cup competitions.

Having been agonisingly beaten 18-16 and 16-14 by Lock Lane, Slicker hopes for a home victory over second-bottom East Leeds (2pm) to avenge a 40-14 loss in October of last year.

Prop forward Paul Geener is out but Michael Diveny and Sean Garrett should shake off minor knocks in time to play at Waterhead Park.

Oldham St Anne’s coach Mick Cashin, meanwhile, is hoping for a repeat of the show which brought about a vital 15-10 win over relegation threatened Shaw Cross Sharks last week.

“It was a cracking win and a really good performance,” said Cashin, who must do without Danny Earley (broken finger) and Chris Carter (broken hand).

St Anne’s travel to Bradford Dudley Hill (2pm) tomorrow and the Saints coach isn’t expecting it to be easy.

“They are not a bad side and very physical,” he added. “But I think we are able to match that now as the younger lads have really toughened up.”


WATERHEAD are holding a benefit concert in memory of Mick Hough, starting at 2pm on Sunday in the clubhouse.

The former Waterhead, Lancashire and GB amateur player, credited with helping shape the careers of Kevin Sinfield and Paul Sculthorpe among others, died this week after a long battle with cancer.

Mick ‘Braddy’ Bradshaw hosts the event, entry to which is by way of a £1 donation, with all proceeds going to Mick Hough’s dependants.