SADDLEWORTH RANGERS made a positive start to their 2014 National Conference League, Division One campaign.
A 26-26 draw against Milford Marlins at Shaw Hall Bank Road in their opening league fixture eased the pain of their Challenge Cup loss against the same side last month.
But coach Shane Tupaea insisted his team has more to offer as they get back into action after a quiet winter break.
He said: “Really this first game was a case of brushing of the cobwebs and getting back into the swing of things.
“Ideally I would have liked a few more pre-season friendlies, but that just wasn’t possible because of the weather.
“We’ve played Milford in our last three games so it was a case of adjusting our game plan to nullify the threat we had already seen.
“There were some good aspects to our game and I’m not displeased with the result. By and large we kept ourselves composed and played some good rugby.”
Rangers’ second team kicked off its 2014 campaign in the North West Men’s League but were defeated 31-16 by Chorley Panthers at Churchill Playing Fields.
Tupaea added: “The lads played well from what I saw as we were a few players down so they did well. The pitch was fantastic and it was good to get a game down there.”
Meanwhile, it was a baptism of fire for new coach Chris Hough as Waterhead were soundly beaten 70-22 at Pilkington Recs in their opening match of the campaign in National Conference League, Division Two.
Hough admitted it has been a challenging start to the season for relegated Waterhead in the wake of a number of departures as Mick Diveney, Alan Williamson and Craig Highton have all moved to Oldham St Anne’s while Dale Lowe has joined Saddleworth Rangers.
He said: “These things happen and obviously they haven’t helped us. We have to go with what we have got.
“We had six or seven under-17 players in the side at Pilkington Recs which has to be good for the future.
“The lads are training well and buying into what we are trying to achieve and there is a great team spirit and enthusiasm which showed on Saturday when the lads kept going to the end.”
Hough added there were positives to take from the defeat against Recs who the previous week had beaten Division One side Myton Warriors in the Rugby League Challenge Cup.
“Our attacking play was good and we scored some cracking tries, but our defence was vulnerable so that is what we will be working on,” he continued.
Hough has a number of players who he intends to bring in to strengthen his side. They are currently playing Rugby Union but want to return to the 13-man code.
Three of Waterhead’s four remaining games in March are at home against Stanley Rangers (8th), Askam (15th) and Stanningley (29th) and Hough says it is important they try and make Peach Road a fortress.
Meanwhile, Waterhead hooker Dale Lowe won Rugby Oldham’s Man of Steel for 2013 after sharing the award the previous year with Jordan Galloway, from Oldham St Anne’s.
Lowe won eight man-of-the-match awards to emerge the clear winner from Saddleworth Rangers’ pair Eric Johnson and Ryan Moore.
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