Fresh off booking their spot in the BARLA National Cup Final on Halloween, Ince Rose Bridge utility Matty Gaskell says the spirit in the camp is sky-high as they prepare for Saturday’s North West Conference semi-final double-header at Victoria Park, Latchford.
Operating at loose forward in their 38-20 cup win, Gaskell embodied the selfless, team-first attitude that has defined Rose Bridge’s season:
"Anything that I can do to help the team, I’m there for it. I can do a job anywhere in the spine... As a collective, it's been a much better season. The togetherness of the boys has just been amazing."
"Everything we’ve been working on since the Challenge Cup back in January, when we ran Swinton close, it’s all coming together. The team spirit and morale is at an all-time high, and I am buzzing for Saturday."
Turning his focus to the 3:00 PM showdown against Yorkshire B champions Featherstone Lions, Gaskell knows his side are in for a bruising afternoon on Latchford’s big pitch:
"They’re a tough team, 100%. I don’t think I’ve been as sore this season as after we played Featherstone Lions... We know they’re a physical side. We’re going to have to try and not get antagonised as much, because I know they will come for it."
While Featherstone bring plenty of muscle and a reputation for fast-paced, high-scoring rugby, Rose Bridge have already proved they know how to unlock them, having earned a hard-fought 26-12 victory on Featherstone's home turf back in September.
The Rose Bridge faithful know that while their forward pack provides the grit, they have lethal dynamic quality out wide. Wing wizard Callum Hughes only needs half a yard of space to make teams pay - boasting 19 tries this year - while the steady boot of Kieron Eccleston keeps the scoreboard ticking over. Featherstone will no doubt come out firing and looking for payback, setting up a classic battle between Rose Bridge's discipline and the Lions' physical onslaught, with several former Featherstone Rovers stars impressing this term.
Kicking off the Latchford double-header at midday is a heavyweight clash between two familiar North West Counties Men’s rivals turned North West Conference contenders in Orrell St James and Blackbrook.
Orrell St James have been the benchmark all year, building their success on an absolute brick wall of a defence that simply refuses to yield easy points. They’ve already gotten the better of Blackbrook twice this season, but play-off rugby is a completely different beast.
Blackbrook come to Victoria Park riding a wave of momentum after delivering a statement 40-4 victory over Keighley Albion in the quarter-finals and pushing Premier Division Hunslet ARLFC within four points in the 1973 cup last weekend. With dangerous attacking threats like Harry Dean in white-hot form and big-game players stepping up across the park, Blackbrook have the momentum and confidence to test Orrell's defensive resolve to its absolute limit. Also tellingly, it's another Wigan-St Helens derby! Both games will also be streamed across the RFL's Youtube channel.
The Shield play-off competition also reaches its semi-final stage with two games at Pilkington Recs Ruskin Drive. Kicking off proceedings, improving Ashton Bears who have been in free-scoring form over the last few weeks, take on Kippax Welfare at 12:30pm with former NCL rivals Milford and Myton Warriors contesting the second semi-final at 3pm.
The prize on offer in both competitions is a spot in the finals, which will be played at Odsal Stadium on 17th October.
By Dave Parkinson
Pic Credit: 13 Pro-Am Community RL
