Rangers aiming to bounce back

AMATEUR RUGBY: COACHES are fond of the adage that ‘there are no easy games’ — and it has never been truer than when describing the run-ins for Saddleworth Rangers and Oldham St Anne’s.

Rangers, gunning for promotion and the title in National Conference League division one, are guaranteed neither.

Currently top, Keith Brennan’s men have suffered a dip in form which has seen them lose their last two matches.

Back on home soil against a Normanton side with their own faint hopes of promotion, Saddleworth will bid to pick up the two points that will keep them ahead of the chasing pack.

After that, Rangers face a run of difficult matches against Castleford Panthers, Thatto Heath and Myton - plus a Standard Cup final against Higginshaw on Good Friday.

Oldham St Anne’s have only two matches left, starting with an away fixture at Stanley Rangers tomorrow.

One win from those two will be enough to take the team back up into division one at the first time of asking — a major boost for a club which was competing at the top of the premier division only a few years ago.

Saints’ final game is at home to Castleford Lock Lane, another team gunning for a top-three finish.

Waterhead have three matches left but little to play for other than a position safely in mid-table.

The Peach Road side are away at Eastmoor Dragons tomorrow (2.30pm) and can pull three points clear of their third-bottom opponents with a win.

National Conference League, division one: Saddleworth Rangers v Normanton (2.30pm). Division two: Stanningley v Oldham St Anne’s (2.30pm); Eastmoor Dragons v Waterhead (2.30pm).

North-West Counties League, division one: Latchford Albion v Oldham St Anne’s ‘A’. Division three: Saddleworth Rangers ‘A’ v Moss Bank Bulldogs. Division four: New Springs v Higginshaw. Division five: Rochdale Cobras v Hindley.