Friday night start for top flight

15th March 2012, 12:40

After a week off for the Carnegie Challenge Cup the Premier Division returns to action this weekend.

The action kicks off with the first Friday night game of the season as LEIGH MINERS RANGERS play host to INCE ROSE BRIDGE.

Ince will make the short journey to Twist Lane looking to bounce back from last weekend’s shock cup defeat to Division 1 side Egremont Rangers, and head coach Mick Worral will be looking for his side to re-produce the kind of form that saw that pass the half-century mark against Saddleworth Rangers on the opening weekend.

For Leigh their home form this season will be crucial as they chase a play-off spot and a positive start under the lights will be a great way for them to bounce back from a week one defeat on the road at Hull Dockers.

The rest of the programme is scheduled to take place in its regular Saturday afternoon slot and included in that is a battle of the “Easts” as LEIGH EAST hit the M62 to face EAST HULL.

Both sides have yet to open their points account for the season and with international players like Lee Brown and Danny Kilshaw lining up against each other it should be a high quality contest.

After gaining promotion from Division One last season MYTON WARRIORS and OULTON RAIDERS will renew their rivalry at members of the top flight.

Both the Warriors and Raiders started with opening day wins and the newly-promoted sides will be looking for a quick start to life in the division, especially Myton who will want to make their Marist Sporting Club base a tough place to visit.

SADDLEWORTH RANGERS welcome HULL DOCKERS to Shaw Hall Bank Road with the sides having contrasting fortunes in the early weeks of the season.

The hosts suffered a heavy defeat to Ince Rose Bridge on the opening weekend and followed that with an exit from the Carnegie Challenge Cup, whilst the Dockers are buzzing following a week one win and progress in the cup which has seen them paired with Championship side York City Knights.

There’s a repeat of the 2011 Grand Final when THATTO HEATH CRUSADERS play SIDDAL.

Influential Thatto half-back Chris Frodsham looks set for a long spell on the sidelines after suffering a broken nose and jaw in last week’s Challenge Cup win over Millom, so Siddal could well fancy their chances of continuing their fine start to the season.

Elsewhere two Hull sides are on their travels as WEST HULL make the long trip from coast to coast to take on WATH BROW HORNETS and SKIRLAUGH head west to Lancashire where WIGAN ST PATRICKS will be waiting.


PREMIER DIVISION
Friday 16 March

Leigh Miners Rangers v Ince Rose Bridge

Saturday 17 March

East Hull v Leigh East
Myton Warriors v Oulton Raiders
Saddleworth Rangers v Hull Dockers
Thatto Heath Crusaders v Siddal
Wath Brow Hornets v West Hull
Wigan St Patricks v Skirlaugh