Rangers close to title

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS: St Joseph’s RC School, Shaw, won the Oldham Schools Tag Rugby Festival. Captain William Whitehead is pictured holding the trophy with (left to right), back: James Forde, Matthew Walls, Megan Whitworth, Jade Hughes, Callum Hendrick. Front: Lavinia Whitehead, Ellie Morrison, Ella Rigby, Corey Dinnen.

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TIME is running out for the sides hoping to oust Saddleworth Rangers at the top of the Rugby Oldham Challenge table.

Though nothing will be fully settled until all the season's fixtures have been played out, the Greenfield side appear to have a stranglehold on first place in the table, averaging more than five points in every game played so far.

Of the challengers, Rochdale Cobras have two matches left in their season, Waterhead two, Higginshaw one and Oldham St Anne's four. Hollinwood have already completed their campaign.

The trophy will be awarded to the side obtaining the most points-per-game on average.

In the Man of Steel standings Higginshaw’s David Sweeney holds an unassailable lead, with 10 man-of-the-match nominations over the season.


Higgy valiant in home loss

HIGGINSHAW made third-placed Spring View fight all the way for their 38-26 win in division four, putting in a committed performance.

After going behind to an unconverted try, man-of-the-match Michael Cadd ran in his fifth try in as many games from 40 yards, David Sweeney adding the extras to edge Higgy ahead on the quarter-hour.

Three unanswered tries from Spring View gave the visitors a 20-6 half-time lead but after a stern team talk from coach Adie Brown and his assistant Sweeney, Higginshaw struck back.

Two penalties from Sweeney were added to by a well-worked team try which ended with Gareth Franklin going over, Sweeney’s boot reducing the deficit to just four points on 50 minutes.

The Wigan side responded with a converted try to make it 26-16, but the game was far from over. A 30-yard break from Scott Hewson began a move which ended with a try from Sweeney which he converted just after the hour.

While another try for the visitors gave them a 30-22 lead with 12 minutes left, Sweeney put over two more penalties to give Higgy hope until two late tries from Spring View made the game safe.

As well as Cadd, Carl Fields and Matthew Corbally impressed for Higginshaw.


OLDHAM St Anne’s ‘A’ won 44-26 away at Haydock in division one, while Saddleworth Rangers ‘A’ were edged out 32-26 away at Orrell St James in division three, denting their promotion hopes.



Diveney’s cup of joy

MICKEY Diveney admitted that claiming the Standard Cup at Boundary Park was a slightly unreal experience for Waterhead.

The 22-year-old scrum-half, awarded the Rugby Oldham-sponsored Ben Powell man-of-the match trophy after guiding his side to a memorable 12-6 victory over pre-match favourites Saddleworth Rangers, is now targeting bigger and better things for a Waterhead side packed with young potential.

“It was a brilliant day,” said Diveney of the traditional Good Friday final which was played out in front of a crowd of 1,148.

“We prepared really well for it all week and to round it off like that was a great feeling. We had a good craic afterwards.

“It didn't sink in for a while, to tell the truth. But now it has, we all know what we are capable of doing as a team.

“To lose a lot of the older players has been difficult for us this season but hopefully this has proved we have got it in us to have a go at promotion next year.”

Waterhead, third-bottom of National Conference League division two, have two games left in their campaign, both of which are at home.

Heworth are the visitors this weekend (2.30pm kick off) followed by Egremont Rangers the following week.