Higgy on a high

GUIDE TO THE 2009-10 LOCAL AMATEUR RUGBY LEAGUE SCENE

HIGGINSHAW head coach Aidy Brown reckons his team are well-set for a tilt at promotion.

With big numbers at training and a host of new recruits at the forward-looking club, there is no reason to think Brown's confidence is misplaced at a club full of belief.

Off the field, developments continue with the club house purchased from St Stephen's Church last year with a new multi sports hall and fitness centre planned, while on it a new team manager, former St Anne's official Tony O'Donnell, has been appointed.

“Our goal is promotion,” said Brown, who is assisted in his duties by player-coach David Sweeney.

“We have a lot of players signed on for this year and still have another couple to arrive.

“It hasn't been like that for a long, long time here so we have told the players they really have a fight on for their positions this season.

“The pre-season went well, though we could perhaps have done with a couple more friendlies, but thing are really good and the club is moving in the right direction.

“There are a lot of plans in place. We are trying to do a lot of things with the community and obviously the club house redevelopment is a big part of that.

“Everything is moving in the right direction.”

Josh Griffiths and Adam Horabin have arrived at Higginshaw from Waterhead, Paul Brooks and Rob Penswick coming in from Hollinwood to add to a number of men returning to the game.

“We haven't had the players for the last couple of seasons,” Brown added. “It was difficult to get players to enjoy the game, basically – but I think we have done that this year.

“They also know they have to fight for a spot rather than just walk straight in.”



Hicks ‘delight’ over impact of Challenge

RAY HICKS, chairman of the Oldham Amateur League, thinks that the past two years of the Oldham Rugby Challenge have had a positive impact on the local scene as a whole.

In the first year of the competition – then known as the Tri-Team Challenge – three clubs rather than the current six vied for honours.

Now, though, all member clubs of the Oldham Amateur League are involved and Hicks appreciates the move.

“We are delighted with the vision and enthusiasm shown by Rugby Oldham, who are ultimately trying to get everyone together under one banner,” said Hicks.

“I don't think there is any question that it has improved the crowds locally.

“What is good now is that the competition encompasses everyone – irrespective of what league they are playing in. It has been a very positive step.”

All six Oldham Amateur League members, plus a side from Ashton Rugby Union, are set to compete in the coming season’s Standard Cup, which was won at Easter by Waterhead. The race is now on to find an eighth side locally to enter a quarter-final draw.

“The Standard Cup is without doubt the lifeblood of the game in Oldham and without it there would be no Oldham League,” Hicks added.

“It is a highlight of the year and we hope people will support this year’s competition in good numbers.”


Hollinwood in player search

HOLLINWOOD'S goal ahead of the new season is simple: get a team out on to the field.
The Pennine League division four club have been down as low as having only eight men training in pre-season as a combination of players leaving, holidays and general apathy have taken their toll on the club, who play at Fields New Road in Chadderton.

For long-standing club official Fred Halliwell, these are desperate times. Thankfully, though, he remains hopeful that things will improve once the action gets underway under the guidance of head coach Lee Bayliss.

“We are struggling and are desperate for players,” Halliwell admitted. “It is the nearest we have come, this year, to folding.

“Once you get going, you pick players up as you go along.

“At the moment, most of the Oldham clubs are telling the same story and there is only Saddleworth who have a real glut of players at training.

“I don't know if we can rally a few at the last minute – I certainly hope so – but this is as bad a situation as it has been.

“There are one or two who have disappeared to other clubs as well now, as they don't think we will survive.

“But I think we will get there eventually. I am an optimist.”


Cobras foes can expect sharper bite

ROCHDALE Cobras are hoping to build on the successes of their inaugural season.

The Cobras’ fourth-place finish in division six of the North-West Counties League last season represented a positive return following a season which wasn’t without its setbacks, with Sid Miller resigning his position as coach after the club failed to fulfil a Standard Cup semi-final at Waterhead.

Those woes are now firmly in the past, according to winger Rob Summerfield.

“We aren’t going to have a repeat of that this year and we are hoping to do very well in the competition,” he said.

“It is only our second season but we have got a good core of experienced players here and we are just looking to get towards the top of the table and perform well.

“We are expecting the standard to improve on last year but then again, we are a lot better than we were then so we are hopeful of a successful year.”

Head coach Kevin Lowe takes charge of a group of players who again enter the season on the back of a morale boost in pre-season.

The Cobras walked away from the Keighley Sevens tournament last month having retained the winning trophy, with Lancashire winger Adam Butterworth picking up the player of the tournament award.

He will be an important figure in the promotion drive once more, as will former Gateshead second row and Fiji international Netani Suka.


Sweeney aiming up

DAVID Sweeney will be going all-out to claim another Man of Steel prize on the back of an outstanding individual season at Higginshaw.

Playing as a midfield organiser, the former St Anne's player tore up North-West Counties League division four to the extent that he picked up 10 star man nominations — five ahead of nearest rivals Danny Kay (St Anne's) and Andrew Cheetham (Waterhead).

The Higgy player-coach picked up a £500 prize for his troubles, becoming the second winner of the Joseph Parr (Alco) Ltd-sponsored award after Saddleworth Rangers duo Michael Coates and Chris Garforth, who shared the honour the previous season.