St Anne’s to honour stalwart

TONY O’Donnell (left) with Oldham St Anne’s coach Chris Deakin after the club’s success against West Hull in the 2003 National Cup final at Bloomfield Road, Blackpool.

OLDHAM St Anne’s RL will hold a minute’s silence before their home match against Normanton Knights (2pm kick-off) tomorrow in memory of club stalwart Tony O’Donnell, who has passed away at the age of 80.

O’Donnell was a member of the first-ever St Anne’s side, founded in 1946, and his long association with the club since then will be marked by the tribute prior to kick-off at Higginshaw Road.

Saints are hoping to maintain their 100-per-cent home record against a side currently bottom of the National Conference League Division One table.

Coach Mick Cashin is currently dealing with an injury list that will keep Peter Deakin, Martin Ryan, Dominic Igoe and Garry Rafferty all out of the action as the team bids to recover from last week’s disappointing 29-14 loss at Eccles.

In the Premier Division, Saddleworth Rangers play host to fourth-placed Leigh East (2.30pm).

Keith Brennan’s side lost 30-24 at Thatto Heath last Saturday and will be hoping for a pick-me-up at Greenfield to step away from the lower reaches of the division.

In Division Two, Waterhead have a home game against West Bowling (2pm).

It is a prime chance for the acting coaching team led by Paul Geener to try to spur the Peach Road side to victory against one of only two teams — rock-bottom Ovenden are the other — currently below them in the table.

SADDLEWORTH Rangers will play their Standard Cup first-round tie at home to Oldham St Anne’s next Thursday, at Shaw Hall Bank Road (7.30pm kick-off).