Rugby Union: Time for Waterloo fringe to show they are cut above

Jan 9 2008 by Ian Hargraves, Liverpool Daily Post

WATERLOO coach Chris O’Callaghan is looking forward to the start of the Lancashire Cup this coming Sunday, as a means of encouraging several fringe players to pull out all the stops and show what they are capable of doing.

He said: "It’s always a bit of a problem if you have a blank weekend.

"This will give some of our up- and-coming lads an excellent chance to impress.

"All being well, we shall be able to put out a pretty useful team against Broughton Park on Sunday, and continue to show the good form we have been demonstrating of late.

"Unfortunately one of our best centres, Jason Duffy, will not be fit enough to play, but overall we should be able to field something quite close to our best team."

Having won their last three matches while conceding only a single try, Waterloo will be full of confidence, though there is plenty of room for improvement in several forward positions.

Their two best props are still not available, and the second row of Davidson and Nugent is not generating nearly as much drive as expected, apparently due to technical reasons which need to be overcome with the future in mind.

Waterloo are probably a bit far from the top to think of promotion, but a double victory over previous leaders Manchester merely confirm if they are one of the strongest teams in the division. Neighbouring West Park are also looking forward to making a good cup challenge, before returning to a couple of league encounters with Morley and Beverley, who are at the foot of the division.

Their form remains a little erratic, but they should still finish in the top half of the table, if their pack manage to provide some dangerous backs with a decent share of the ball.

Vale of Lune are well below them in the league, and so West should be able to try out a few interesting moves, despite making sure they complete the basics properly.