ROUGHYEDS have taken to social media to wish Waterhead Warriors the best of luck in today’s National Cup semi-final against Myton Warriors of Hull on Waterhead Park, kick-off 1.30pm.
Among the many messages received at Waterhead’s Peach Road headquarters were those from Oldham RLFC head coach Stuart Littler and his assistant Brendan Sheridan.
Both know what the big National Cup semi-final will mean to everyone at Waterhead, Littler having grown up in rugby at Leigh Miners and ‘Shez’ having spent much of his life in the amateur game around his native Dewsbury, where he coached Celtic before taking up his first pro appointment at Roughyeds.
Shez said in his message:
“Best of luck boys. You are representing Oldham.”
Littler, who will coach Ireland in this autumn ’s World Cup, added:
“You are just one game away from the big dance – the National Cup Final. Oldham is buzzing with rugby league right now and you are massive part of it.
“Enjoy the game boys. Hope you get the result.”
Both congratulated Waterhead’s Gareth Owen in winning the National Conference League’s try-of-the-week competition with 50 votes, way ahead of his competitors.
Waterhead have named a 19-man squad for a game sponsored by Sporting Image Ltd, the company run and owned by Michael Bradshaw, better known as ‘Braddy’, a former Waterhead player and Oldham Rugby mascot.
The local side’s 19-man squad for the big game is:
Hamilton, Holland, Young, Dean, Owen, Brennan, Birch, Perks, A Joy, P Joy, Bridge, O’Grady, Murphy, Hourahan, Lowe, Sarsfield, Pemberton, Campbell, Wallace.
Myton are in the NCL first division — two divisions higher than Waterhead, who lie second in division three, having beaten derby rivals St Anne’s and Millom in their opening two league games.
The other semi-final is West Hull v Sharlston Rovers, which kicks off at 2pm.
The Final will be at the Millennium Stadium, Featherstone Rovers (formerly known famously as Post Office Road) on Sunday, April 10.
Roughyeds are at home to West Wales that day in their third game of the season after meeting Keighley Cougars at home on March 27 in game one and Hunslet away in game two on April 3.
Other NCL games involving local clubs this weekend are Saddleworth Rangers v Oulton Raiders in division one and Millom v Oldham St Anne’s in division three.
