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Rochdale go on the road to Leigh for match of the season

25/ 2/2005

Rugby Union

ROCHDALE travel to Leigh on Saturday for what should be the game of the season.

After last week's results Rochdale moved top, above Leigh in second place and third-placed Broughton Park.

Jonathon Rhodes, Andy Tilley and Hamish McDonald are all in the starting line up. Mike Bradwell faces a fitness test, otherwise Rochdale are at full strength.

The seconds travel to play Didsbury Toc H with a line-up which includes Chris Kane, Graham Stubbs and Xavier McKay. Jonny Mair steps in at fullback.

The thirds are at home to Tyldesley and this is a hard fixture to call. Tyldesley, on their day, can be formidable.

The veterans play Village Spartans at Bamford.

First XV (v Leigh, away, meet club at 12pm): G Barlow, P Johnson, H McDonald, J Rhodes, A Badenhorst, L Riddle, R Hartley, T Helliwell, D James, G Wellings, M Thomas, A Rowlinson, C Johnson, A Tilley, T Valentyn, N Sunderland, T Sunderland, M Bradwell, A Howarth.

Second XV (v Didsbury Toc H, away, meet 12.15.pm): T Owens, D Greenhalgh, A O'Brien, N Finnigan, J Winterbottom, M Duffin, N DuToit, P Collins, D Bowers, X McKay, J Finnigan, C Kane, G Stubbs, K Parry, J Mair, P Swindon, J Gillighan, J Finn.

Third XV (v Tyldesley, home, meet 1.15pm): B Fudge, J Smithies, R Bradley, S McGuire, S Worrall, S Tomlinson, Spiteri, S Gudmanson, R Baker, L Burke, P Wild, O Horne, P Seymour, C Jones, J Barton, I Hamilton, D Priestley, J Bamford, C Van Der Vyver.

Veterans (v Village Spartans, at home, meet 1.15pm): As carded.

• LITTLEBOROUGH take on Heaton Moor in a championship showdown at Rakewood on Saturday afternoon.

Whoever wins this match will be in prime position to take the title.

The Boro players have done some soul-searching after last week's defeat at Tarleton and they are fired up for this match.

They have trained hard, but coach Lee Durrant believes the outcome will come down to mental strength.

He said: "The players will need to raise their game when times are tough, and their attitude will need to be first class. Destiny is in their own hands and the best way to predict the future is to create it."

First XV (v Heaton Moor, at home, meet 12.30pm, kick-off 2.30pm): R Blackburn, J Maxey, C Diggle, S Kolinsau, K Naulumatua, L Durrant, C Kolbuck, M Murgatroyd, D Greenwood, S Bairstow, C Collins, B Irving, O Lord, M Elvidge, M Forden, P Fino, D Fraternalli, S Wystanowha.

Second XV (v Kendal, at home, meet 1pm, kick-off 2.30pm): S Codling, S Blackburn, M Keiley, C Duffy, N King, P Doran, A Bairstow, J Bex, S Pollitt, A Bracegirdle, M Galvin, M Goggins, E Klieve, A Varley, R Chadwick, J Land, J Galvin, V Napoliani, G Stott, R Hyman.

Third XV (v Warrington, away, meet 1pm, kick-off 2.30pm): P Reynolds, I Murgatroyd, A Sweeney, B O'Niell, M Payne, A Lord, S Rusden, B Park, B Kershaw, S Kershaw, C Sturridge, B Reader, A Walton, L McCovery, G Stansfield, J Crabtree, R Lindsey, G Harris,
R Heap, G Shorres.

Stags (v Bolton, home): Cry-offs contact Paul Blomfield.