Oldham aces to celebrate Aussie duel

TERRY Flanagan, Mick Worrall, Ray Ashton and Colin Hawkyard will be among Oldham RL’s class of 1986 present for Rugby Oldham’s ‘Roughyeds v Kangaroos’ dinner.

They will be joined by team-mates Stuart Raper, Hussein M’Barki and ex-manager Frank Myler, who was the last British captain to lift the Ashes, at Oldham St Anne’s ARLFC on Friday November 11.

The dinner is to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Oldham’s unforgettable clash with the touring Australians.

In a ding-dong battle at Watersheddings on November 4, 1986, Oldham fought all the way before eventually succumbing 22-16 in front of 5,678 fans.

The rampant Australians were unbeaten on the tour, but it was Oldham who gave them their biggest fright.

Australia’s vice-captain of the 1986 trip, Royce Simmons, touches down on the morning of the event, before heading north for the dinner.

Brian Noble, Great Britain captain on the 1984 tour which included Flanagan, Ashton and Worrall and managed by Myler, will be the main speaker for the evening and will no doubt come up with a few beauties of his own surrounding that experience.

Former St Anne’s and Saddleworth Rangers’ man Kevin Fitzpatrick is the MC.

Filmed highlights of the 1986 match when Oldham came closest of all the British sides to toppling the Aussies will be shown along with rare film of other Oldham v Australia matches dating back to 1921.

Some will be seen in public for the very first time including the ‘Battle of ’59.

Tickets for this mixed event are £25 and include a four-course dinner (7pm-7.30pm).

To book, call (0161) 652 2918 or (01457) 875084.