Orrell v Saints - Powergen Preview
By Chris G
December 19 2002
On Saturday the Saints travel north to deepest Lancashire looking to secure a place in the last eight of the Powergen Cup. In their way stand Orrell a major player in recent times now (maybe) on their way back to greatness after failing to get a grip with the professional game in the mid nineties.
Now part of the Whelan family (JJB Sports) empire alongside Wigan Warriors RL side and soccers Wigan Athletic, Orrell are one of the teams who have the potential and importantly the cash backing to rise to the top of the game once more and renew their rivalry for North West supremacy with those upstarts from Cheshire, Sale or the Sharks or whatever they are calling themselves this week.
Oddly, spearheading the rise back to former glories is one Maurice Lindsay, a man not known a decade or so back as a lover of the game of Union when he headed Rugby League in this country. Living in that part of the world at the time I can remember his dismissing of our game only too well as the Northern code plundered the Union ranks for players and especially at that time Welsh players.
Clearly though noticing that the winds of change clearly are now blowing in favour of the fifteen man game, new owner David Whelan has put Lindsay, undoubtedly a master administrator, at the head of operations at Orrell. How times have changed for Mr Lindsay!.
Ross Reynolds, the former Wallaby flanker looks after all team affairs as head coach.
Unfortunately a fire earlier this year destroyed Orrells homely clubhouse at Edge Hall Road which many of you will remember as one of the best on the circuit. My own personal memory of the place was, as well as the good food and hospitality, a large sign that was erected on a wall outside not long after Hynesy had joined us from the club in the pre-professional days.
It read simply 'Reserved for Martin Hynes Sponsored Car'. Bitter?........nah, just a very dry sense of humour. Although the jobsworth the players put to guard the spot took it to heart and wouldn't let anyone park there till a senior member of the Orrell set up went and explained the joke to him. Happy days........
The clubhouse though is now gone (just like Hynesys sponsored car) and Orrell played games earlier this season at Wigans JJB Stadium but three professional teams on one set of turf was too much (could you imagine what Piggy would be like?) so the union side moved back home to host their biggest game for the last couple of years.
It is hoped in time that new facilities will be built but at present both food and drink are sold from stalls.
I for one would like to see Orrell rise like a phoenix from the ashes, just like that famous clubhouse, and once again be a regular hunting trip for the Gold, Black n Green. But if they are going to rise once more they can start that rise from Sunday.........
Saints coach Wayne Smith has opted to rest a few Saints players after the exertions of recent weeks. In the backs a return for All Black Bruce Reihana who missed the European games against Cardiff due to not being registered in time. Air Bruce replaces Nick Beal at fullback.
Jon Sleightholme returns to the wing opposite Oriol Ripol while Ben Cohen sits the start out on the bench. In the centre both Peter Jorgensen and Mark Tucker return replacing the partnership of Long John Leslie and Chris Hyndman which has been nothing short of a revelation over the last month. Both Jorgy and Tucks will have their work cut out to dislodge either from a full strength selection.
Ian Vass, another youngster who has taken his opportunity with both hands after Matt Dawsons injury starts at halfback, partnering young Archie Brooks who replaces Paul Grayson at flyhalf.
In the forwards Robbie Morris and Chris Budgen, playing his best rugby for the Saints, pack down either side of Dan Richmond at hooker while international duo Tom Smith and Steve Thompson take a breather on the bench.
Last weeks second row pairing of Steve Williams and Rob Hunter also search for splinters as new signing Matt lord, also ineligible for Europe, and Jon Phillips pack down at lock.
In the back row youngsters Darren Fox and Mark Soden (yet another revelation this month at No.8) are joined by the ever dependable Andy Blowers who skippers the side.
A somewhat experimental lineup but all players have done the job at this level before and if things do go pear shaped a bench containing Smith, Thompson, Williams, Grayson and Cohen is not too bad to call on, now is it?
15 BRUCE REIHANA
14 JON SLEIGTHOLME
13 PETER JORGENSEN
12 Mark Tucker
11 ORIOL RIPOL
10 James Brooks
9 Ian Vass
1 Robbie Morris
2 Dan Richmond
3 Chris Budgen
4 Jon Phillips
5 Matt Lord
6 ANDREW BLOWERS
7 Darren Fox
8 Mark Soden
Replacements:
16 STEVE THOMPSON
17 TOM SMITH
18 STEVE WILLIAMS
19 Rob Hunter
20 Johnny Howard
21 PAUL GRAYSON
22 BEN COHEN
There is no concrete news from Orrell at the time of writing on their team selection (looks like their website burnt down too) but Great Britain league international Gary Connolly could make a return to the side.
Connolly played half a dozen games for Orrell last term and of course spent a few months at Quins in the mid nineties. He is keen to get his season started as he has half an eye on a place in next years Irish World Cup squad.
(Keep watching the message board for team news updates).
And finally, I'm sure you have all heard by now that Chairman Keith Barwell (or Uncle Keith to you lot) has joined in the pre-Christmas cheer and stated that he will buy every Saint supporter that joins him in The Station pub next the ground before the game a pint. Rumours are that every fancy dress shop in the Northampton area have sold out of false beards and moustaches since the announcement.
So if you're reading this Keith make sure you give a tug before you buy a jug. Because knowing most of this lot they'll be after more than one freebie.
Oh, and the landlady says she will only accept cash! ;-)
Prediction: Saints by 20
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