St Anne’s chief plays it cool

MICK CASHIN was delighted with the way his Oldham St Anne’s side kicked off the new NCL division two season — but isn’t about to get too carried away.

A 62-8 demolition job on Eastmoor Dragons, a side Saints have had plenty of tough clashes with in recent seasons, indicates that a promising season lies ahead for the Higginshaw Road club.

An away fixture at East Leeds (2.30pm) is sure to test the mettle of St Anne’s, so Cashin is hoping for a repeat effort.

“It is a good start for us, but that is all it is,” Cashin warned. “We will be keeping our feet on the ground.

“Our defence early on won us the game so we will have to be strong in that area again.

“We are just wanting to keep the momentum going. There is a different feeling about the club this year.”

Cashin hopes to be able to select the same 17 that set about Eastmoor in the 11-try rout.

Waterhead, also in division two, have no fixture this weekend.




BUOYANT Saddleworth Rangers aim to make it three wins from three home games when Stanningley come to Shaw Hall Bank Road tomorrow (2.30pm).



Last year, with form on home soil patchy, this run of fixtures wouldn’t have represented much, if any, advantage to coach Keith Brennan’s men.

But the promotion chasers are in fine fettle at present, defeating both the Dudley Hill and Rochdale Mayfield so far.

“They beat us twice last year, so we will have to be on our mettle,” he said.

“We again improved in a lot of areas against Mayfield and if we can keep on doing that then we won’t go far wrong.”

Emerson Jackman (shoulder) is still absent for Saddleworth along with James Whalley (knee). Simon Parrish is among a group of players who could step in.