Littleborough Rugby Union take on Orrell

Mark Murgatroyd, Littleborough Rugby Union

Littleborough take on Orrell on Saturday; though once a giant club playing in the top flight of rugby competing against the very best, in the last few years Orrell have lost the strength to compete at the very top and instead have become a mid-table outfit determined to recapture former glories.

Back in the 1980s and 1990s Orrell were famous for nuturing international stars such as England ex-winger, now turned BT Sport commentator, Austin Healey and current England international Nick Easter. However, since 2004 the club has been in decline due to numerous financial troubles and changes of ownership.

For those in love with the game it is desperately sad to see this happen to any club but what it does show is just how far Littleborough have come. They are the favourites going into Saturday's game and will be expected to bring the points back to Rakewood.

Director of Rugby Richard Rawlinson is unable to call upon the services of Nathan Ripley and Chris Hough but is set to have centres Andy Walton and Adam Browne back after missing last week's victory at Garstang.

Littleborough's second team have another tough fixture, maybe even the toughest of the lot, as they make the trip to the Fylde Coast. Both Fylde and Littleborough find themselves enjoying good campaigns sitting first and third respectively in what is turning out to be the tightest league season in recent memory with a single victory separating the top three teams.

After a disappointing result against Kirby Lonsdale last week, Fylde will hope to put in a much improved display in front of their own crowd.

Littleoborough are looking to continue an unbeaten run that stretches to eight matches and a win would take the teams level on points going into the reverse fixture.

Littleborough's third team make a journey to Heaton Moor confident of picking up a positive result having got themselves back on track after a disappointing February, and have already beaten their opponents in the reverse fixture a few weeks ago.