Sights fixed on Rangers

GUIDE TO THE 2009-10 LOCAL AMATEUR RUGBY LEAGUE SCENE

FIVE local sides will attempt to wrest the Rugby Oldham Challenge title away from Saddleworth Rangers this season, as the inter-town competition invigorates the amateur rugby league scene once again.

The set up of the competition — which uses each of the teams’ league results to compile a six-club table — is the same as it was during the successful campaign last year.

Three points for a win, two for a draw, one bonus point for a loss by 12 points or less. There are also extra points to be played for if sides prove themselves to be big scorers, or equally if they manage to be tight in defence.

Every match counts as Higginshaw, Hollinwood, Rochdale Cobras, Oldham St Anne’s, Waterhead and Saddleworth — winners for two seasons running — all do battle for bragging rights.

Playing resources vary across all clubs, so the idea behind the structure of the competition is to recognise the efforts of clubs that perform well within the division in which they compete.

To that end, with the six sides playing out differing numbers of league matches in total, the destination of the trophy will be determined by way of a points gained per game average for every one of the competing clubs.

That means that ALL clubs — be they of the National Conference League, the North-West Counties League or the Pennine League — stand a chance of claiming the glory come the end of the season.

The Rugby Oldham-sponsored competition has certainly sparked extra interest in the amateur scene over the past two season.

In 2007-08, what started as a vague idea borne of the fact that Waterhead, Saddleworth and St Anne’s all happened to be playing in the same division soon became reality in the form of the Tri-Team Challenge.

Bumper crowds at the six derby clashes followed and the injection of extra interest brought about by the locally-based competition helped swell the pockets of the programme sellers at the various grounds.

Team trophy aside, there is also a Man of Steel competition to add spice for the players themselves.

A £500 prize, put forward by local business merchants Joseph Parr (Alco) Ltd, has again been made available for the top individual performer from within the six sides.

Last season the booty was picked up by Higginshaw’s David Sweeney, following his early-season defection from Oldham St Anne’s, and the man who is now a player-coach will be hopeful of fending off competition from the likes of Saddleworth’s Michael Coates, who won it jointly with club-mate Chris Garforth two seasons ago.

Updates will appear in the Chronicle every Thursday throughout the amateur rugby league section, providing a regular opportunity to keep interested parties up to date with how each of the contenders is faring.

Yet again, the stage is set for a season full of intrigue and excitement as the amateur scene in Oldham continues to flourish.




HOW IT WORKS

WITH six local teams involved, the Rugby Oldham Challenge uses the result of every league fixture to produce a special table.

Whether it be National Conference League division one or North-West Counties division five, each game is valued as being of equal worth.

Clubs get three points for a win, two points for a draw and a bonus point for a loss by a margin of 12 points or less.

There are also incentives designed to reward both attacking and defensive prowess irrespective of the end result.

An extra point is available for each multiple of 10 scored in a single game; one point is on offer for conceding 30 or below, two for 20 or below, and three for 10 or below.

With clubs playing out an uneven number of fixtures, each club’s overall points total will be calculated on a percentage basis.


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