Sweeney’s award

David Sweeney (left) receives his award from Iain Taylor (Rugby Oldham Chairman)

DAVID Sweeney has revelled in his role at Higginshaw this season.

The playmaker has racked up a total of 10 man-of-the-match awards to claim the £500 Man of Steel cheque at the Oldham Amateur League’s annual dinner.

It follows a mid-season switch back to his old club from Oldham St Anne’s and Sweeney hasn’t looked back since.

“I have really enjoyed my rugby here,” said the 25-year-old, after claiming the Joseph Parr (Alco) Ltd sponsored prize.

“I left St Anne’s due to work commitments and now I am really happy here playing alongside my mates.

“In a few of the games I got man-of-the-match when other lads deserved it more than I did, but the money has helped me out with work being difficult at the moment.”

Sweeney is to combine his role on the pitch with assistant coaching duties off it next season at the North-West Counties League club, who will have Adie Brown as head coach next year.

Other winners to receive their awards at the League dinner were Saddleworth Rangers, overall winners of the Rugby Oldham Challenge, and promising Saddleworth prop forward Anthony Morrison, who claimed the young player of the year award.




LEE Greenwood’s Siddal defeated East Hull 15–8 at Featherstone’s Post Office Road ground to become National Conference League premier division champions.



The Oldham winger’s Halifax side will now aim to complete a treble — they had already claimed the minor premiership crown — by picking up the BARLA National Cup. They face Wigan St Cuthbert’s in the final, which is being played on Saturday, May 23, at Fylde RUFC.




Kay wins tour place



OLDHAM St Anne’s hooker Danny Kay has been confirmed as being among the National Conference Eagles touring party this summer.



The 24-year-old, in outstanding form for the relegated Higginshaw Road club last season, is included in a 25-strong squad which will take on France B on June 19, and Morocco on June 21. Both games are being played in Perpignan.

Saddleworth Rangers forward Adam Walker is on a four-man standby list for the tour, which is designed to give NCL division one and division two players a shot at representative rugby.

St Anne’s centre David Cookson, meanwhile, has been selected to represent BARLA Great Britain under-23s on a tour of Ukraine in mid-June.

Cookson recently played for Lancashire against Yorkshire and was in excellent form last season.

“The club is obviously thrilled for both players and hopefully they will both be part of successful tours and produce the rugby we know they are capable of,” said Saints secretary Barbara Henderson.