Rangers players geared up for cup-final

RUGBY: COACH Craig Farrimond has implored his Saddleworth Rangers side to focus from the first whistle in tomorrow’s Napier Windows Standard Cup final at Manor Park (kick-off 11.45am).

A dawdling start cost the Shaw Hall Bank Road club dear recently — they were 20 points down before they got on the board against Shaw Cross Sharks last weekend — and they can ill-afford another tardy opening in the Good Friday head-to-head with holders Rochdale Mayfield.

Big and strong, Matt Calland’s men have a made a decent show of life in the Kingstone Press National Conference League Premier Division so far, with one win in the opening three games.

Rangers have yet to break their duck in Division One, though Farrimond reckons his side is in the right frame of mind for an upset after issuing a midweek rollicking.

He said: “Rochdale are a tough test for anyone. I’m sure we can raise our game. We need to start well. “We’re finishing games strongly, after giving ourselves too much to do. The lads got a bit of a rocket at training on Tuesday, so are really geared up for this one.”

Although still without long-term injury absentees Ryan Moores and Scott Booth, Farrimond is boosted by the return of full-back Ollie Kerr and utility forward Bowden Morgan.

The Rangers coach added: “It’s a local derby and I think we’ve got a decent chance. We'll give it our best shot, I know that.”

The action at Oldham RU’s Manor Park gets underway at 10.45am with an over-35s masters game,

featuring past and present players from the Oldham and Rochdale area. The player of the match will receive the Johnny Blair memorial trophy.

Saddleworth School teacher Garry Melling takes charge of his first Standard Cup final, while Gareth Palmer and Bradley Gartland are the touch judges.

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