Tough battle looms for RU side

RUGBY UNION: OLDHAM Rugby Union face one of their most important games of the North Lancs/Cumbria Division season tomorrow when they play hosts of fellow relegation battlers Aldwinians.

The teams clash at Manor Park (3pm) with Oldham occupying the third and final relegation spot. However, they are level on points with their local rivals and have three games in hand.

Unbeaten in their last three starts, Oldham are showing much better form than when the sides met on the opening weekend of the season in a match won 40-12 by Aldwinians.

Kyle Howard has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a leg injury, but Mike Douthwaite, Will Mellor and Chris Pickles are added to the Oldham squad.

Oldham 1sts v Aldwinians (H) from: P Wardle, J Watson, P Farnan, J McEwan, J Taylor, J Edwards, A Waterhouse, A Pierre, R Froggatt, R Jackson, R Jackson, M Goodman, A Gorey, G Barber, J Hesse, R Cooper, C McKenzie, C Roscoe, L Roscoe, M Douthwaite, W Mellor, C Pickles. Meet club 1.30pm. K.O. 3pm.

2nds v Aldwinians (A): D Booth, J Suiter, M Jakeman, S Barrett, M Collinge, J Maslen, N Taylor, M Collins, J Connor, C Meagram, D Savage, C Lamb, K May, C Heap, J Green, Jordan Green, N Hackman, S Brennan, P Graham. Meet club 1pm. K.O. 3pm.

3rds v Tyldesley (H): S Kennedy, A Beswick, P Watson, P Walmsley, C Shipman, A Nixon, K Chadwick, A Birch, M Fitton, C Gill, L Whitehead, R Wan, P Hushion, P Goodyear, G Phelan, A Newton, M Mitchell. Meet club 1pm. K.O. 3pm.

Vets/4th v North Manchester (A): G Aylett, M Bradbury, M Burgess, R Burke, N Forsyth, J Griffiths, Dom Hall, D Hall, M Hodge, A Jones, L Jones, P Lockett, P Marsh, N McDowell, L Moran, T Mullholland, D Roberts, J Selby, D Simpson, G Trickey. Meet club 1pm. K.O. 3pm.

Reserves and cry-offs phone team managers/coaches/captains.