Clubs rise to the Challenge
Date published: 25 August 2010
EYES ON THE PRIZE: Captains Kieran Grennan (left, Waterhead), Sean Stubbs (Higginshaw), Rick Cigna (Rochdale Cobras), Mick Coates (Saddleworth Rangers) and Ricky Roberts (Hollinwood) are bidding to win the Rugby Oldham Challenge for season 2010-11.
AMATEUR RUGBY LEAGUE: SIX teams will do battle for this season's Rugby Oldham Challenge title.
Holders Oldham St Anne's are in the running along with Higginshaw, Hollinwood, Rochdale Cobras, Saddleworth Rangers and Waterhead.
The division each team plays in is not relevant to their chances of claiming the prize.
Clubs get three points for each win, two for a draw and a bonus point for a defeat by a margin of 12 points or less.
There are incentives designed to reward attacking and defensive prowess, irrespective of the result.
An extra point can be gained for each multiple of 10 points scored; one point is gained for conceding 30 or below, two for 20 or below and three for 10 or below.
Due to clubs playing differing numbers of fixtures, the overall table is calculated on a points-per-game basis.
Brennan looks to young guns
YOUTH is the key for Saddleworth Rangers this season.
Back in the big time following promotion to the National Conference League Premier Division — for many, the pinnacle of the amateur game in this country — the Greenfield outfit are hoping for a season of consolidation.
Coach Keith Brennan is once again working with Wes Rogers, who has returned from a spell at Co-operative Championship One outfit Swinton.
Shane Wilson is the other member of the first-team coaching set-up who will attempt to achieve success by blooding a host of promising young players.
Tom Dransfield, Ethan Langhorn, Adam Jeffries and Josh Brown are among those tipped to shine for Rangers.
But Brennan, who has lost the services of the retired half-back or hooker Lee Charlesworth as well as Simon Parrish, who has joined Oldham St Anne’s, is taking things one step at a time.
“We are hopeful that a lot of our younger lads will really come of age this season,” said Brennan, who saw his team to promotion following a third-placed finish in Division One last term.
Saddleworth are the current holders of the Standard Cup, having defeated Higginshaw.
But they lost their Rugby Oldham Challenge crown to St Anne’s, thanks to Saints’ excellent efforts in gaining promotion to NCL Division One.
Highton eyes up improvement
GARRY Highton has his eye on steady progress at Waterhead.
The 57-year-old, a well-known face on the local amateur scene thanks to his work with the Oldham Service Area, has stepped into the hot-seat at Waterhead Park.
Last season Waterhead disappointed in National Conference League division two, ending the campaign in the lower reaches of mid-table after the departure of Mick Slicker.
Highton has been assisted in taking training sessions by son Paul, the former Salford and Oldham prop forward, when time has allowed.
"I am enjoying it tremendously and have had a good response from the players to the new regime," said Highton. We are hopeful of having a successful season.”
Familiar faces boost Saints
OLDHAM St Anne’s coach Mick Cashin is hopeful the addition of a couple of familiar faces will boost his squad’s chances in National Conference League Division One.
Simon Parrish has made the move across from Saddleworth Rangers to join the Higginshaw Road club, while former players Chris Worth — the Australian is back from a spell out of the game due to other commitments — and Phil Jagger are also in the selection mix to boost options in the forwards.
Saints are also banking on the likes of Greg Worrall to come to the fore.
The 18-year-old centre and son of former Oldham and Great Britain star Mick, who is himself on the coaching staff at St Anne’s, toured South Africa with the BARLA Great Britain squad earlier this year.
“We are happy to be back playing at this level once again and are looking to consolidate,” said Cashin.
Saints have played two friendlies so far, defeating old rivals Wath Brow 28-20 at Higginshaw Road before also winning against Pilkington Recs at the same ground 32-16 at the weekend.
Deakin ushers in fresh ideas
NEW Higginshaw coach Paul Deakin is trying to instil a brand new philosophy into his players ahead of the North-West Counties League Division Three campaign.
Deakin, who spent six years in youth development at the club, fills the hot-seat vacated by Aidy Brown.
And while getting his message across to raw teenagers is one thing, altering the mentality of seasoned veterans is proving quite another.
He said: “We have some very good players in the squad who don’t need to be taught how to suck eggs.
“Apart from one or two minor issues concerning technique, the only thing I need to put across at the moment is a different philosophy of fresh ideas.
Deakin, who will be assisted by David Sweeney, is closing in on at least two transfer targets, although he won’t identify them until the deals are done.
A comfortable mid-table finish is the priority this season.
Halliwell’s eyes on promotion
HOLLINWOOD, with only one win last term, are going all out for an immediate return to the Pennine League Division Four following last season’s disappointing relegation.
Mainstays Nick Wilson, Mick Boulson and captain Ian Hunt have committed their futures to the club.
And coach Lee Bayliss will be assisted by Chris Gorey, formerly of Royton Tigers.
Long-standing Hollinwood official Fred Halliwell said: “The aim is to achieve promotion at the first time of asking.
“The good news compared to this time last year is that we have about 20 players on the books, as opposed to the six or seven we had last summer.” Hollinwood face Whit-worth Spartans in the first round of the Standard Cup.
Top-half finish is target
AFTER two successive promotions, Rochdale Cobras will settle for a calm campaign culminating in mid-table consolidation.
Now in the North-West Counties League Division Four, it’s all change this time around, with Ryan Blake taking over as coach from Kevin Lowe, who moves up to rugby league development officer.
Blake will be assisted by Gareth Hutchings, while Steve Wood takes the captain’s armband.
Steely resolve
A CHEQUE for £500 is up for grabs again to the top-performing local player this season.
The Man of Steel award — sponsored by Joseph Parr (Alco) Ltd — has provided plenty of additional interest over the past three seasons.
The winner is the player who picks up the largest number of man-of-the-match awards.
