Up for the cup

SILVER service . . . Littlemoor pupils lift the cup, watched by I’Anson and Roberts

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Youngsters get hands on trophy ahead of crucial clash
YOUNGSTERS at two Oldham primary schools got their hands on a cup that Roughyeds hope they’ll take a giant step towards tonight.

Oldham Rugby League Club and Northern Rail teamed up to attend Alt Lane and Littlemoor primary schools — and described the visits as outstanding successes.

Children were advised on rail safety and told all about the Northern Rail Cup — in which quarter-finalists Oldham and Featherstone Rovers clash at 7.30pm.

Pupils from both schools, and their families, will be at the crunch cup tie to support the Roughyeds.

Alt Lane pupils who did well in a writing competition based on railways and rugby league and Littlemoor pupils from the school’s top house in their inter-house competition have received tickets.

The game takes place at the new £83 million Leigh Sports Village and will be televised live by Sky Sports.

The youngsters will reserve special cheers for the two players who visited them in the classroom, skipper Robert Roberts and young prop Jamie I’Anson.

Roberts said: “The children at both schools were fantastic. They were really interested in the cup-tie and they had lots of questions lined up for us.”

Northern Rail Cup sponsorship manager Tony Hargrave added: “I was very impressed with Robert and Jamie, two unassuming young men who were great with the children and did their club proud.

“I would like to thank the schools for hosting our visit.

“We placed a lot of emphasis on rail safety and on the dangers of playing anywhere near railway lines — very important for seven to 11-year-olds — and also talked a lot about rugby league and the value of sport. Jamie made his debut for his previous club, Celtic Crusaders in South Wales, in the Northern Rail Cup so it will always be a special competition to him.”

The Roughyeds’ community team has been working hard all season with the two players concentrating on going into the borough’s primary schools and a third, Chris Baines, now spending a lot of time in local high schools.

Players and officials from a new junior club in Fitton Hill and Hathershaw were guests at a recent Roughyeds game while around 150 junior players, club officials and parents from the Oldham St Anne’s club were at Boundary Park to watch the game against Hunslet Hawks.

As a follow-up, Roberts and I’Anson were special guests at St Anne’s when the junior section held its end-of-season presentations.