THATTO HEATH CRUSADERS (AWAY)
Its the start of the new Kingstone Press Cider 2014 NCL season on Saturday when Leigh Miners make the short trip down the M62 to take on local rivals Thatto Heath Crusaders in a Round One Premier Division fixture, Kick off 2-30pm at Close Street.
The 2014 season is sure to be the toughest to date with everyone in the Premier Division more than capable of beating each other at home or away and while all fourteen clubs will have ambitions of being in a top six spot come October, this year there is even more pressure to finish has high as possible with four teams being relegated and only two coming up from Division One to create an even stronger twelve team Premier Division in 2015.
Miners are aiming to be alot more consistent this year having been very disappointing last year in the league finishing outside a playoff spot in eighth position and although they again won silverware, winning the Conference Challenge Trophy for a second successive season they will again be looking to retain it for a third time but the lads know the Grand Final is the big one and to be in with a shout come playoff time in October they need to produce more consistent performances week in week out to even have a chance of grabbing a top six spot.
Coaches Allan Coleman and Paul Whitworth will be confident the club can cope much better this year with injuries after a host of new and old players have joined the openage squad to leave both the first and second teams looking healthy with plenty of competition for places all across the park. On Saturdays trip to Thatto, Coleman and Whitworth make two changes from last weeks Challenge Cup defeat at Kells with both wingers Andrew Groves and Deakon Monks dropping out through injury and returning to the u18s respectively. Coming into the side are Jake Waterworth and Jack Probert.
Thatto Heath Crusaders will be looking to go one better this year after finishing top of the table and being crowned Minor Premiers they failed to make to make the Grand Final after losing in successive weeks in the playoffs at home to Wath Brow Hornets and West Hull to end their chances of picking up a second NCL title in three years. They will know doubt be challenging for honours again this year with them having an excellent young side which has seen many come up from their successful u18s side in recent years and if previous Close Street meetings are anything to go by between Thatto and Miners it should be a walk in the park for the home side with them having an excellent home record against the men from Twist Lane in recent years.
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Leigh Miners 2nd team start their new season on Saturday with a home fixture against Rochdale Mayfield in NWC Division Two, Kick off 2-30pm at Twist Lane.
It’s derby day on Sunday when the u18s take on local rivals Leigh East in the Quarter Final of the XAMAX BARLA National Cup, Kick off 12-30pm at Twist Lane.
