DESERT STORM!

Rangers delight at successful Dubai trip

SADDLEWORTH Rangers had to endure TWO desert storms on the way to defeating the United Arab Emirates Falcons on their trip to Dubai.

The game, played in blistering heat in world-class surroundings at The Sevens stadium, was preceded by the first storm half and hour before kick-off which reduced visibility to a mere five metres.

The second happened when as the UAE team, playing their third fixture in four weeks, came back to score 20 points against a Rangers side visibly wilting in the heat despite an 8pm kick-off (local time).

Saddleworth eventually won the game 68-20, but the result was of secondary importance to Rangers chairman Terry Flanagan.

“The significant thing is the speed at which the UAE lads are developing,” he said. “Under the leadership of Sol Mokdad (Emirates RL director of development) and his growing band of talented and committed friends, the progress is clear since we were here 12 months ago.

“The game was well-organised, the referee Andrew Johnson, an Australian working in Dubai, was first-class and the number of players on the sidelines who are ready to compete in a four-team competition later in the year was very encouraging.

“The whole experience was fantastic and the real winner is rugby league. These pioneering trips should be encouraged and there is a growing and welcoming bandwagon for the game in the eclectic mix of cultures in Dubai.”

Rangers began the game with purpose and went ahead through a Stephen Nield try, created by Ethan Langhorn’s chip through, which was converted by Michael Coates.

Two more tries followed through Lars Haigh and Phil Wood in the first quarter-hour and after an Emirates rally Rangers scored four times thanks to James Whalley, Langhorn, Jack Brennan and Liam Coates. Michael Coates kicked six more goals for a 42-0 half-time lead against a side mainly made up of local players.

The second half was a much more even affair and the Falcons got on the board on the hour through Elie Nehme, making his rugby league debut, much to the delight of the watching crowd.

Duncan Murray, a top performer for the second year running, converted and the hosts recorded further tries through former Irish students player Dave Baulmer and the evergreen Wayne MacDonald, who again performer magnificently for the hosts.


HULL Isberg have withdrawn from the National Conference League.

It leaves division two, which Waterhead and Oldham St Anne’s are to play in this season, with 11 teams.


BARLA are said to have received a good number of nominations for vacant posts on the new-look Lancashire County Committee. Of the old guard, only Oldham’s Lester Chattein remains.