Saddleworth Rangers book Standard Cup final place

By Mark Barrow

SADDLEWORTH RANGERS are through to the Standard Cup final following an 18-10 victory over local rivals Waterhead.

Saddleworth Rangers LogoIn Rangers’ first competitive game of 2016 the revitalised squad gave run outs to new signings including former St Anne’s centre Mick Fogarty, and ex-Roughyeds’ prop Andy Jones.

Jack Holden did the damage with two tries, along with contributions from Ben Whitehead and Josh Brown while Tom Robinson was named man of the match.

And new joint-head coach Paul Geener, who’s teaming up with Craig Farimond, said there are a lot of positives to take from the victory ahead of the new league season.

He said: “It was our first game so it was obviously going to be nervy, but I think the win provides us with a great platform to work from.

“I thought the new signings played well, especially for their first game. It takes time for a team to work together, but I’m very proud of them.”

Their reward is a place in the cup final against Rochdale Mayfield at Oldham RUFC on Good Friday, kick-off 11.30am.

But before then, they turn their attention to league fixtures as their National Conference League, Division Two campaign gets underway this month.

And Geener has set his sights on the top as he hopes to use the experience of the new signings to take the club back up to Division One at the first time of asking.

He revealed: “Our goal is to be top by the end of the season – we aren’t just making up the numbers.

“We have a great set of players. We aren’t a massive squad but we know what we have to do.”

Rangers got their league campaign underway with a win on Saturday, March 5 at Dewsbury followed by a victory against Blackbrook at Shaw Hall Bank Road on March 12.