Rangers head for Dubai heat

TERRY FLANAGAN

PIONEERING Saddleworth Rangers are about to fly out to play in Dubai for the second year running.

The Greenfield club played the first ever officially-sanctioned rugby league match in the Emirates last May, taking on the UAE Falcons and winning 36-18.

The same opposition will again lie in wait for Rangers this time around, with the game being played in the evening in order to avoid sweltering temperatures of more than 40 degrees.

“We are expecting a tough test,” said Rangers chairman Terry Flanagan, part of the 35-strong club party jetting out to the Middle East in mid-July.

“It will be another great end-of-season trip and a fantastic experience for the lads.

“A lot of the younger boys are joining the trip this year and this is a great way of setting up goals for other youngsters as they move up through the ranks at the club.”

Saddleworth's game against the Falcons takes place in The Sevens stadium, a 50,000-capacity venue which was purpose-built to host the Dubai Rugby Sevens competition in November of last year.

Organised with the assistance of the director of development of Emirates Rugby League, Sol Mokdad, the Saddleworth clash takes place on July 17.

That is a month after the Falcons have taken part in a two-match home series with the Lebanese national rugby league team — who went within one game of qualifying for the 2008 World Cup in Australia.

The Falcons will use the Saddleworth game as preparation for a return fixture against the Lebanon in Beirut on August 22, with the matches taking part under the auspices of the Rugby League European Federation.

As a warm-up to the main event of Rangers' five-day stay, a side representing the club will participate in an over-35s Masters game against a team made up of Dubai-based ex-pats.

“It is part of our strategy to have teams on tour,” Flanagan added.

“We sent a squad to Australia in 2005, we were in Dubai last year and our youth section organises trips to France every year.

“We believe it is important as the club develops and we are grateful to our sponsors for their help.

“Ken Rudd (the RLEF's executive officer) sanctioned the Dubai trip and he is delighted we are going.”




RANGERS staged an amazing late comeback in a 42-42 home draw against Bradford Dudley Hill in the National Conference League summer league.

The side from West Yorkshire appeared well set for a comfortable victory when taking a 42-14 lead five minutes into the second half.

Saddleworth, though, had other ideas and claimed a share of the spoils through unanswered tries from Danny Atherton, Sean Slicker, Phil Wood, Adam Jeffries and Phil Costin, who added five goals in total.

Dave Hewitt, Chris Riley and Wood has scored for the home side in the opening period.

The result follows up the previous week’s 38-6 home win against Rochdale Mayfield. Hewitt (two), Mitchell Burch, Danny Lowe (two), Stephen Nield and Jeffries all grabbed tries with five goals from Lowe.


HIGGINSHAW have started pre-season training under new coaching team Aidy Brown and David Sweeney.
Sessions take place on Tuesday and Thursday (6.30pm to 8pm) on Oldham Edge. Old and new players welcome.