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Locals back in action

7/ 1/2005

Rugby Union

ROCHDALE start the year with a trip to play an up-and-coming Hoylake side.

The Wirral team is unbeaten at home this season and will be a difficult nut to crack.

Tom Helliwell passed a fitness test and returns at number eight for the Bamford outfit. Alan Badenhorst goes into the second row and Tim Sunderland goes to the bench. Terry Valentyn retains his fullback slot.

The seconds have a hard fixture at Leigh, but if the forwards can win enough possession they have the back line to play havoc with any defence.

The thirds are at home to Carrington and coach Mick Gould will be looking for John Winterbottom to stamp his authority on the game. He is a player with a lot of potential and should be playing at a higher level by this stage.

The high-flying veterans travel to Tyldesley.

FIRST XV (v Hoylake, away, meet club 11.15am): G Barlow, P Johnston, H McDonald, J Rhodes, A Badenhorst, L Riddle, M Bradwell, T Helliwell, D James, G Wellens, M Thomas, C Johnson, A Rowlinson, A Howarth, T Valentyn, N Sunderland, T Sunderland, C Gillighan.

SECOND XV (v Leigh, away, meet club 12.30pm): T Owens, A O'Brien, P Swindon, D Priestley, M Mason, M Duffin, S Barlow, P Collins, R Japtha, X McKay, J Finnigan, C Kane, J Mair, A Tilley, B Dixon, K Parry, P Atkin, J Hartnett.

THIRD XV (v Carrington, at home, meet club 1.30pm): B Fudge, A Worrall, S Worrall, S McGuire, S Tomlinson, N DuToit, J Finn, J Winterbottom, R Baker, J Gillighan, P Wild, A Cooper, O Horne, C Jones, P Seymour, I Hamilton, J Smithies, R Turnbull, D Bowers, R Bradley, C Flitcroft, M Collins.