Player-coach Pendlebury bidding for winning finale (From Advertiser Series)

Player-coach Pendlebury bidding for winning finale

5:10pm Thursday 26th April 2012 in Pennine League By Jack Strother

Clayton’s stand-off Scott Pendlebury will be hoping to bow out in style when he ends his three-year stint as player-coach at Slaithwaite Saracens on Saturday. The stalwart said: “I will play on next year but I need to concentrate on my own game now.

"I have had a great assistant in Peter ‘Fudge’ Milner, who is also stepping down in order to let a new coach take the helm.

"Apart from a three-year spell with West Bowling in the National Conference, I have completed 27 years at the club since starting out as a ten-year-old.” Pendlebury who has guided the Villagers to Pennine League Premier Division safety in what has been an injury-riddled season can finish with a flourish, having enjoyed a 19-16 victory on home soil over the Saracens at the start of the campaign.

Queensbury will be without promising three-quarter Matty Leigh Haigh (knee injury) when they complete their home programme against Hunslet Old Boys.

Bury teenage full back Billy Naylor is included in a strong squad that is seeking to avenge a 48-4 away defeat against the Old Boys, who must settle for the runners-up spot behind Drighlington.

Player-coach Andy Senior, who has moulded a young Bury outfit into a formidable unit, will see the game as a yardstick for next season’s assault on the Premier crown.

West Bowling will welcome the end of a troubled season when they hang up their boots for the last time at Sharlston Rovers.

Bowling has won just three games since returning to the Premier and have been relegated alongside St Joseph's.