Cup final seeks a new home

Waterhead’s Liam Bland forces his way over for their opening try in a 21-14 win over Stanley Rangers in National Conference League division two.

AMATEUR RUGBY:

OLDHAM Amateur League officials hope to tie down a new home for the Standard Cup final this week, following the news that Boundary Park cannot used over the Easter weekend.

Oldham Athletic have vetoed the usual arrangement for the showpiece final due to concerns over the playing surface, with a host of rearranged fixtures due to be played out over the coming weeks as a result of bad weather.

The move — which echoes the decision not to allow Oldham Roughyeds to play at Boundary Park due to concerns over the pitch — was expected by the League and the committee has a new venue all-but sorted for the showpiece final.

“It is just one of those things,” said league official Nigel Hollingsworth. “There is no bad feeling and we have had good co-operation at Boundary Park over the years.”

Higginshaw’s win over Hollinwood means they will now play Rochdale Cobras in the semi-finals of the cup, with no date yet set for the game.

Waterhead are to play Saddleworth Rangers at home this Sunday (2pm kick-off), with the winners going on to meet Oldham St Anne’s in the other last-four tie.




HIGGINSHAW responded to their BARLA National Cup defeat (see separate story) by outclassing Hollinwood in the quarter-finals of the Standard Cup.



Clinical in attack, they recorded an emphatic 54-0 win to set up a last-four showdown against North-West Counties League rivals Rochdale Cobras.

Higginshaw were on the board in the 10th minute, Ryan O’Donnell setting up Scott Hewson with a neat chip over the defence. O’Donnell added the conversion.

Anthony Sweeney released Chris Tomlin, who bust through a tackle for try number two, which again O’Donnell converted.

On a roll, centre Steven Perry added to Higginshaw’s tally.

And, immediately from the restart, a fine five-man culminated in Sweeney scoring by the posts. O’Donnell, who provided the final pass, kicked the goal for a 22-0 lead in as many minutes.

Hollinwood, from the Pennine League, had a spell of pressure on the Higginshaw line, with Ian Hunt, Michael Corolan and 16-year-old Jack Dobavand all making good ground, but they just failed to score.

With the midfield trio of Sweeney, brothers David and Ryan O’Donnell controlling the game, Hollinwood’s defence opened up once again, and this time it was Adam Horabin who went clear to score under the posts. Ryan O’Donnell added another two points to the total.

Hollinwood put pressure on the Higginshaw line in the early stages of the second half, but they were unable to find a way through.

Play switched to the opposite end, where Michael Cadd sprinted home from 20 yards before David Sweeney put Carl Fields in for his ninth try of the season.

The tie was in the bag for Higginshaw, who piled up more points thanks to further tries from Sweeney, Fields and man-of-the-match Cadd. Ryan O’Donnell converted all three.