Deakin set for selection headache

OLDHAM St Anne’s are struggling for players ahead of their showdown at Normanton Knights — the outstanding team of National Conference League Division Two.

Saints, already without injured duo Danny Kay and Michael Cadd, are missing John Fox and Ryan Powell, who is set to feature in Salford’s academy side.

The availability of Kiel Lancashire is also under doubt, leaving coach Chris Deakin with a selection headache ahead of the Higginshaw Road club’s toughest contest of the season to date.

“They pipped us at our place by two points,” said Deakin, recalling the painful 24-22 loss on home soil six weeks ago. “But being honest, they are the best team we have played. We’ll just go there to give it a good do.”

Top of the table, Normanton average nearly 40 points a game and have a positive points difference of 266 — the best of all three top divisions of the Conference.

Saints are part of the leading pack in Division Two and Deakin is pleased the current crop of players is able to compete at this level.

“We are in the right division this time,” Deakin added. “We don’t win every week but we are able to compete.”



WATERHEAD will look for back-to-back victories in Division One away at Millom (2.30pm).

Andy Sands’ men saw off Stanley Rangers 26-22 last week and the Peach Road men are up against a team which last week lost to Saddleworth Rangers.



This week, RANGERS are up against Dewsbury Celtic at their Shaw Hall Bank Road home (2.30pm), hoping to make it two wins in a row.

The win over Millom gave a much-needed injection of hope that Saddleworth can turn their season round and climb off the foot of the table.