Juniors emulate the professionals

Rochdale Service Area Player Development Centre team photo

When the Rochdale Hornets step out to play Oldham Roughyeds in the fiercely contested Law Cup fixture on 2 January, they will be watched from the stands by the stars of the future.

The Oldham Service Area Player Development Centre and Rochdale Service Area Player Development Centre will showcase the talent that is being nurtured by running an under 13s and under 14s skill development session on the main pitch at Whitebank. At the end of the session, the supporters of the Roughyeds and Hornets will be treated to a taste of the future when the Oldham SAPDC will take on the Rochdale SAPDC in numerous small sided games.

Steve Molloy, RFL Talent Coach for Greater Manchester Commented: “The Service Area Programme has seen a revamp in the last year with the removal of regular inter-town fixtures and this has had a great positive impact on areas such as Rochdale. We just felt the kids needed a bit of competition to keep them interested. We feel that by using the small sided games/game sense approach but adding a local rivalry will really test the players skills in a pressured situation.”

The Rochdale SAPDC is now so popular sessions will run in the New Year at 3 age groups: under 13s, under 14s and under 16s.Ex-Hornets player Stephen Gartland has now joined the ranks, meaning the coaching set up is as follows:
Under 13s: Stephen Gartland (Mayfield Mustangs), Rob Rigby (Littleborough), Andy Battersby (Milnrow Cobras) Under 14s: Terri Davey (Hornets RL), Dean Hartley,(Mayfield Mustangs), Mark Cumiskey (Milnrow Cobras) Under 16s: Danny Pyke (Hornets RL), Paul Mellors (Milnrow Cobras), Stuart Nutley (Littleborough)

Players are asked to arrive at Whitebank Stadium for 12.00pm wearing your green Service Area jackets. Players will need to bring there training kit and any equipment required for a match (gum shield, pads, boots etc). Ticket details for parents are available upon request (ryan.bradley@rfl.uk.com)

Please can all players confirm attendance at this session by phone call/email to your club coach

Rochdale SAPDC under 13s and under 14s to represent Rochdale: 

• Adam Leonard - Milnrow Cobras
• Bradley Turner - Mayfield Mustangs
• Calum Dawson - Milnrow Cobras
• Cameron Connoly - Mayfield Mustangs
• Jack Kershaw - Milnrow Cobras
• Jack McConaghie - Mayfield Mustangs
• James Connaughton - Mayfield Mustangs
• Jamie Simpson - Mayfield Mustangs
• Joseph Schofield - Mayfield Mustangs
• Lewis Butterworth - Mayfield Mustangs
• Matthew Ashton - Mayfield Mustangs 
• Matthew Lees - Milnrow Cobras
• Nathan Coyne - Mayfield Mustangs
• Owen Thompson - Milnrow Cobras
• Reece Cumiskey - Milnrow Cobras
• Tom Howcroft - Milnrow Cobras
• Travis Holden - Mayfield Mustangs
• Zac Baker - Mayfield Mustangs
• Zachary Hartley - Mayfield Mustangs
• Andrew Hughes - Milnrow Cobras
• Arnold Dube - Mayfield Mustangs
• Ben Ratu - Mayfield Mustangs
• Bradley Gartland - Mayfield Mustangs
• Bradley Wood - Milnrow Cobras 
• Callum Ogden - Mayfield Mustangs
• Connor Fitton - Mayfield Mustangs
• Connor McCondichie - Mayfield Mustangs
• Daley Schofield - Mayfield Mustangs
• Declan Sheridan - Mayfield Mustangs 
• George Coupe - Littleborough
• Jack Higginson - Mayfield Mustangs
• Jack Rush - Mayfield Mustangs
• Joe Battersby - Milnrow Cobras 
• Joseph Gettings - Mayfield Mustangs
• Joseph Mellors - Milnrow Cobras
• Joshua Poole - Mayfield Mustangs
• Kevine Wetshonkonda - Mayfield Mustangs
• Kyle Greenwood - Mayfield Mustangs
• Nathan Coop - Milnrow Cobras
• Richard Duckworth - Mayfield Mustangs
• Richard Mcculloch - Mayfield Mustangs
• Sean McEvoy - Milnrow Cobras
• Thomas Dolan - Milnrow Cobras
• Thomas Haddley - Milnrow Cobras
• William Greenwood - Mayfield Mustangs