Published at 13:08, Friday, 30 March 2012

BACK IN THE FOLD: Hawcoat Park skipper Jason Priss

NORTH LANCS RU

IT is unusual for both Hawcoat Park teams to be away on the same day – and very rare for them to be on the same bus bound for the same destination.

Therefore, after a tough game with their Oldham counterparts tomorrow, the Maroon and Whites’ first and second teams will enjoy the opportunity to share a few sociable beers together on the return from an away trip.

The first team will be looking to bounce back from their defeat at Bolton, but Oldham are also near the top of the league and will be a tough nut to crack on their own patch.

The always industrious Brad Morrow is not available, but on the plus side a few key players return, including skipper Jason Priss and vice-captain Matt Sayle.

Interestingly, the selectors have not picked Sayle in his usual centre position, but will give him a chance to show off his strong running and handling skills from the back row, alongside the returning Mike Lightfoot and number eight Tim Clark.

After an impressive try-scoring performance as a replacement last week, Josh Haney retains his starting place and adds good pace and strength on one wing.

Goal-kicking scrum half Adam Jackson continues to impress and is developing a good under-standing with fly-half James Howden.

Following their excellent home win against Fylde, the A-team will be looking build on at that success against an always tough Oldham second team. Last week’s hat-trick hero Arran Clark is not available, but another impressive performer Dan Hayes plays on the other wing, with Chris Dalton playing at full-back.

It is good to see Sam Hilton back in a maroon and white shirt, albeit wanting to play in the back row rather than his normal scrum half berth. He is joined in the back row with two of last week’s other stand-out performers, Matt Forrester and Rick Halfpenny.

Hawcoat Park 1st XV (v Oldham away, tomorrow. Meet club noon prompt for bus for 3pm kick-off). From: J Moses, M Burrows, A Graham, G Hilton, J Haney, J Howden, A Jackson, L Ducie, A Grainger, J Priss (captain), M O’Halloran, A Mowat, T Clark, M Lightfoot, M Sayle. Replacements: C Burns, R Dalton.

Hawcoat Park 2nd XV (v Oldham away, tomorrow. Meet noon prompt for bus. Any cry-offs, call Andy Murray on 07581 172739). From: C Dalton, D Hayes, W Howard, J McParland, J Crowe, L Sayle, A Williamson, R Sayle, R Harvey, A Kent, P Edgley, C Ramsay, M Forrester S Hilton, R Halfpenny, plus anyone else who wants a game.

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