TOWN TEAM VS FIJI UK MATCH PREVIEW
Spotland Stadium will have an international feel to it tomorrow as ‘The UK Fijians RL’ have their first ever run out against the established and now ever impressive Rochdale Town Team (kick off 1pm).
The game will be seen as a warm up to the 2013 RL world cup in which Rochdale Council along with Link4Life, The Spotland Stadium Company and Rochdale Hornets successfully brought to the borough.
Rochdale has a long history with Fiji, with a number of natives signing for Rochdale Hornets in the 1960s and settling down in the town. Now Rochdale boasts the highest Fijian population in the UK outside of London, with players turning out for community teams Rochdale Mayfield and Rochdale Cobras.
The Town Team will see this as their chance to showcase themselves on the big stage after a close run game against Hornets in the Christmas period, which saw the amateurs lose out by just one score.
Aidan Gleeson (Rochdale Mayfield) captains the Town team with Tabua Cakacaka(Gateshead Thunder) taking the helm for the Fijians in a game everyone will expect to be a cracker.
Leon Ashworth, Town Team coach, commented ‘The Fijians will no doubt be a massive test for us. They will be strong, quick and big from 1 to 13 and will test us physically. We have had a good group of players who have been attending the prep sessions at Heywood over the last 10 days and we are in good shape to compete with them’
The coaching team of Ashworth (Mayfield) alongside Dave Ramsbottom (Cobras/Hornets) and Adam Browne (Littleborough) will have a difficult decision to make come selection, as over 20 players have made themselves available for the fixture from the boroughs 4 clubs. Duffy, West and Moores are available for selection again following recent performances for Hornets u23s.
Seven local players who normally play for local clubs and the Town Team are set to feature for the Fijians, testing club loyalties and friendships to the core. Fijian captain, Tabua Cakacaka, is hopeful of some high profile players to take there place alongside the Rochdale based Fijians. Interest has come from League and Union players in the professional and community ranks from Stoke, Catterick and Edinburgh amongst other places.
The main match sponsor is Jeff Stott and the official grog ritual and Fijian party will be at associate sponsor Flying Horse Hotel from 4pm.
All monies raised from the game will go back into Rugby League Development within the borough, with a donation made to a cause of chosen by Fiji UK.
Rochdale Town Team Vs Fiji UK
Spotland Stadium
Sunday 22nd January
13:00 Kick Off
Adults £3
Concessions £1
