Hornets host South Wales Scorpions in their first Northern Rail Cup group game, which will be their first proper run-out with the weather having played havoc with friendlies.

Their first team managed to hold Newton to a goalless draw and the point enabled Newton to move level on points with division leaders Irlam Steel. But Steel still have three games in hand and remain title favourites.

Organised by Brian Tynan and Joe Stott, more than 80 former players attended what turned out to be a great afternoon.

Section one, observed by Neil Anderton, proved a tricky one for the hard route boys. Only Andy Cripps, Jack Price and brothers Brad and Dec Bullock enjoyed a clean first lap. Julian Ingham had a five, as did Richard Anderton.

It took nearly six hours for Novak Djokovic to dispatch of Rafael Nadal last weekend, and when you add the likes of Roger Federer and Andy Murray into the mix, men’s tennis is where the action is.

The former Accrington boss has enjoyed an impressive first fortnight in charge of Dale after leading his new side to a 3-0 win over local rivals Bury.

Coleman’s first away day as Spotland chief sees a daunting trip to the runaway league leaders – but with new strikers Michael Symes and Paul McCallum joining the ranks on transfer deadline day, Dale venture south in high spirits.

Stankevitch came through the ranks as a teenager at Saints – he was given his chance, he worked hard and he went on to enjoy a successful career. He’s now making his mark in coaching and is determined to give youth its chance within the Rochdale set-up.

Sterling individual performances from Simpson on his debut in goal and O’Donoghue up front for Horse & Farrier meant the leaders had to work harder than they may have thought for their 10th win of the campaign but they prevailed comfortably enough thanks mainly to the sharp finishing of four-goal Gavin Lynskey.

North Star ran out 9-0 winners against a side they trail in the Premier Division of the Rochdale & District Sunday League.

The course was fast, flat and less muddy than some.

The visitors had a couple of good results last season – including a creditable performance against Leeds Carnegie, one of the top Uni sides in the country.

First on for the Class 1 34-36kg category at Grange School Sports Hall in Gorton was James Bacon, who boxed Billy Howes of Clayton ABC.

Dale’s first game under new boss John Coleman produced the club’s first win in 10 games, a 3-0 success against the Shakers.

Victory over near rivals Rochdale Mayfield was quickly followed by a heavy defeat at North Wales Crusaders.

Mellor did the business with a hard-earned 4-3 win at lowly Hooley Bridge Celtic to move within five points of Hey with a game in hand.

Coach Mike Gould was not happy with all aspects of the game, in particular when they let the visitors in for an easy try with only five minutes on the board.

That meant disappointment for Boro players of the past who had travelled to attend the club’s third annual reunion but they consoled themselves with a good old catch up – and maybe the odd beer – as they reminisced on times gone by.

At the final whistle it was a feeling of job done from both camps after a steady game at the Mayfield Sports Centre.

After playing Rochdale Mayfield on Saturday, Hornets took the trip across the border to Wrexham to play the newly-reformed Crusaders in the Sunday fixture.

The charged atmosphere of a derby battle is sure to provide Coleman with a red-hot welcome on his Spotland debut as Dale boss, and the new man at the helm is determined to make an immediate impact.

So Dale fans will have been cheered to see the new boss start as he means to go on this week when he was unveiled to the press corps.

The Fiji team, featuring Fijian exiles from Rochdale, Stoke, Gateshead, London and beyond, fared well in their first outing but lost out to the hosts.

In the other Group A match, struggling Wardleworth succumbed to defeat once again as Littleborough hit three past them with a brace from Tim Astley and a goal from Nathan Taylor. Mario Botezatu bagged Wardleworth’s only goal in the 3-1 defeat.

Khan, 14, boxing under a touch button scoring system, was advised by coach Steven Connellan to be intelligent with his punches and to work off a busy jab.

First staged in 2003, it has rapidly become one of the most popular running events in the world.

But reigning champions Whalley Range retained their unbeaten record and stay seven points adrift of Hey with five games in hand as they beat Old Stretfordians 3-1.

Given their standing at the top of Division Two, Boro will have to get used to playing sides of a similar calibre should promotion follow as expected and if this was their first test at that level, late tries from David Kearns and Chris Duffy ensured they passed with flying colours.

For the Central Lancashire League club’s fans will be sat on seats from Lancashire’s historic Old Trafford ground, which is currently undergoing a £32m facelift.

Danny Slack got the scoring underway early in the second half as he powered on to Luke Hartley’s short ball and proved too strong for his opposition to hold as he crossed the try-line.

Recent results have not been favourable and they travelled to Merseyside with relegation concerns mounting.

Having spent the last 13 years as manager of Accrington Stanley, orchestrating three promotions during his time at the Crown Ground, Coleman has accepted the challenge of staving off a return to the Football League’s basement division for struggling Dale.

Coleman was at Prenton Park for Dale’s goalless draw against Tranmere on Tuesday, prompting rumours of a move to Spotland for the Accrington Stanley chief.

After a successful year in 2011, excellent club growth and making a mark with the addition of the Wardle Off-Road Triathlon and Heywood Aquathlon competitions, club members are now setting their sights on the 2012 season.

The game will be seen as a warm-up to the 2013 Rugby League World Cup which Rochdale Council along with Link4Life, The Spotland Stadium Company and Rochdale Hornets, successfully brought to the borough.

Bithell, alongside his skipper in the 470 class Luke Patience, could only manage sixth place at Skandia Sail for Gold in Weymouth in June – a regatta, which doubled as a London 2012 selection event.

The away fixture had seen Rochdale crushed 5-0 just before Christmas in a game that had more of an effect on their morale than it did their league position; but with a decent performance against Moss Park last week, Rochdale looked much more prepared this time around.

Jamie underwent an operation on Sunday to pin his ankle, and everyone associated with the club wishes him a speedy recovery.

Preventing their opponents from scoring a single point for the seventh time this season, the five-try display will only have served to bolster the leaders’ championship hopes.

Beech’s boys had done little to cement the caretaker chief a full-time role in the Spotland hotseat with two poor performances before this clash.

That possibility has been ruled out by Stankevitch, however, who tweeted about the importance of player safety at the weekend.

The new Dale manager’s working week began amid speculation linking former number two David Flitcroft with a return to Spotland. But far from feeling unsettled by talk of a usurping, Beech was in buoyant mood ahead of today’s home game against Stevenage.

Gino Petrillo and Martin Shaw put Italia ahead before Qasim Mohammed pulled one back for Wardleworth but it was all in vain as Italia pull five points clear of the bottom.

Highton fired in from 18 yards in the third minute of added time to rescue a point for the home side after a Brad Hubble brace had given Holker the lead.

Cedar Court Hotel in Bradford provided the location for this ABAE title bout and the venue was classy, very different from the Victorian style town halls normally associated with midweek trips out for the amateur boxer.

The single point keeps them out of the relegation zone, and in a strong position to push on in the coming weeks.

Number two to Keith Hill, ‘Flicker’ left the club last summer when the duo took charge at Barnsley. Weekend reports claimed he was the frontrunner to replace Steve Eyre as permanent boss.

Stuart Bithell celebrated the 200-day countdown to the greatest sporting show on earth by becoming the 21st member of Team GB confirmed for the Games.

The visitors were unable to take advantage of a strong wind at their backs in the first half with Dalians defence superbly marshalled by central John Luker and Chris Cooper.

The hosts instantly started the brighter of the two sides and Wirral spent much of the opening 20 minutes camped inside their own 22.

Despite not living up to the expectations for a top-of-the-table encounter, Boro played out a fantastic four-try display to not only defeat their nearest rivals, but also earn a vital bonus point.

Following two postponements to the game at Whitebank, the club’s historic pre-season friendly is finally expected to go ahead this Sunday.

Brett Ormerod joined fellow Blackpool frontman Daniel Bogdanovic on loan at Dale earlier in the week and is expected to make his debut in this afternoon’s clash against Hartlepool at Victoria Park.

Nevertheless, while Hartlepool United’s ground may be a little frayed around the edges, the venue’s shortcomings will do little to quell the appetite and enthusiasm of Brett Ormerod.

Last year was a notable one for Mark, as he finally hung his boots to end a long playing career, and then a few months later took over the manager’s job on top of his chairman duties at the club, after previous manager Dave Brown left to join FC United of Manchester.

Baber has spent the last three years at Ribblesdale League side Baxenden, winning league titles in 2009 and 2011. 

With 3,000 participants from all corners of the world, including a strong contingent from Slovakia in all categories, the competition was fierce.

The Blackpool striker signed an emergency loan deal at Dale on Monday and netted the equaliser in a 1-1 draw against Preston.