Hornets dreaming of big day at Wembley
AFINAL at Wembley on Saturday, June 8 next year is the ultimate prize for Rugby League clubs outside Super League which compete in the 1895 Cup.
Rochdale Hornets, Oldham and holders Halifax form one of seven groups of three, the winners of each going into the quarter-finals, plus the best second-placed club.
Competing will be 13 Championship clubs and eight from League One
Oldham will play each of their Group games at Boundary Park, meeting Halifax on Sunday, January 28 and derby rivals Rochdale on Sunday, February 18.
In Betfred League One, Oldham will start with an away trip to Derwent Park to face Workington Town on Sunday, March 17 (3pm) and their first home game at Boundary Park against
Rochdale Hornets will be two weeks later on Easter Sunday, March 31.
Included in their 20 league fixtures will be four loop games - two at home, two away.
Oldham will play Workington away twice and Keighley away twice plus Newcastle at home twice and Cornwall at home twice.
Director Haydn Walker, who lives in Wigan, is to take a full-time role at the club, working on admin, Oldham’s Community Foundation, IMG grading and social media strategy.
He was assistant coach at Oldham in seasons 2000 and 2001 when Mike Ford, now managing director, was player-coach and took Oldham to within one game of Super League.
Said Walker: “The boots won’t be going on this time.
“There will be loads to do off the field. The club has been a sleeping giant for too long. and I’m excited by what we are trying to achieve.”
Meanwhile, Hornets’ 2024 Betfred League 1 fixtures have been released, with the team set to face Midlands Hurricanes away from home in the opening round of the competition
Hornets first home Betfred League 1 fixture comes in Round 2, as they host Hunslet at the Crown Oil Arena on Sunday March 24th at 3pm.
Betfred League One will be a nine-club competition, with each side playing 20 matches – 10 at home, and 10 away.
This means Hornets’ loop fixtures are confirmed as Keighley and Cornwall at home, and two trips away to Newcastle and Workington.
The League One Grand Final will be played on October 6th at the home ground of the team ranked highest during the regular season.