New coaching team ready to serve

HEAD START: Jon Perks (left), Eddie Aspin and Paul Geener.

RUGBY:

AN EMERGENCY call-out from Waterhead has been answered... and the first team now finds itself in safe hands.

Police officer Paul Geener (36) and firefighter Jon Perks (38) have been named as joint coaches of the Peach Road outfit, a club they have both served loyally on the pitch for many years. Both work shifts in their respective professions — hence the reason for a double-appointment.

Geener, who has been involved in coaching at the club since the young age of 22, had a spell in charge last season when outgoing coach Garry Highton was unavailable and also the previous year following the resignation of Mick Slicker.

Perks has been involved on Waterhead’s coaching staff since hanging up his boots four years ago.

A regionalised mini winter league awaits before the start of the new summer season in 2012. And which team provides the duo’s first test? Oldham St Anne’s . . .

“It is a massive game to begin with,” said Geener. “I am confident that we will do very well against them.”

Having claimed the top job along with his fellow stalwart Perks — Eddie Aspin is providing able back-up to the pair — Geener can’t wait to get stuck in to pre-season training and believes the new set-up has the potential to bring back players who have drifted away from the club in recent years.

“I don’t honestly think the club could have a better team in charge,” he added. “We have got loads of ideas and we will put those to the players and also take in the ideas that they have as well.

“I have played with and known Jon for years. He is a massive figure at the club and Eddie will be a great help.

“A lot of players now in their mid-20s I had when I took the under-18s. I have spoken to many already and I am hopeful that we will see a lot coming back to the club as well.

“We want to make things professional and we are really looking forward to what is a massive challenge.”

Waterhead chairman Peter Beswick believes that with the new-look team, which also sees Ronan O’Brien take on second-team coaching duties, the club has made the right choice.

“We think they will do a good job,” he said. “It is

difficult at the moment to get the commitment from players to get two teams out, but we will get there.”

Waterhead are set to start next year’s summer National Conference League season in Division Two.

West Bank of Widnes, Featherstone Lions and Askam have been recommended by the NCL board for acceptance into the league


SADDLEWORTH Rangers are hosting a big Masters event at Shaw Hall Bank Road on Sunday.

Former Great Britain international prop forward Barrie McDermott will be among those taking part, along with other former stars of the sport.

Starting at noon, the fun also features a New Zealand side who will perform a haka and a barbecue with a hog roast in an event sponsored by JW Lees, Sprintshift and Armer Components.