Saints out to spring surprise

OLDHAM St Anne’s coach Mick Cashin reckons his side have a real chance of causing an upset on Saturday.

Saints, of National Conference League division two, take on premier division outfit Wigan St Jude’s at Higginshaw Road in the preliminary round of the Carnegie Challenge Cup (1.30pm kick-off).

With a strong home record behind them as the club chases promotion, Cashin is confident of giving Jude’s a run for their money.

“It will be a good test of how far we have come along,” said Cashin, who will bring back a host of first-teamers from the side that eased to a 66-4 win over Ashton-under-Lyne RUFC in the Standard Cup last week.

Ben Ingham is out of contention after fracturing a leg against Ashton and joins Garry Rafferty and John Fox on the sidelines.

Greg Worrall will step up from the under-18s ranks and could be joined by highly-rated young forward Musadik Khan, who spent time in the Huddersfield Giants academy side last season.

Waterhead, whose Standard Cup home match at home to Saddleworth Rangers was called off last week due to a snow-covered pitch, will try again to get a match on this weekend.

They are down to play a home tie against Drighlington (2pm kick-off), also in the preliminary round of the Challenge Cup, and it promises to be a tough test for Mick Slicker’s strugglers.

The Bradford-based visitors are currently top of the Pennine League premier division, having won nine of their 10 matches.