Onyango handed two-game ban

LUCAS Onyango: hauled before RFL disciplinary committee

Winger to miss Challenge Cup tie and Championship One opener

OLDHAM RL right-winger Lucas Onyango was suspended for two matches and fined £50 by the RFL disciplinary committee in Leeds last night.

As left-winger John Gillam is out with a broken nose and a fractured eye socket, Roughyeds will go into Sunday’s Carnegie Challenge Cup third-round tie against the amateurs of Hunslet Warriors at the Whitebank Stadium (3pm kick off) without their two first-choice finishers.

Onyango will also miss the following Sunday’s opening game in Co-operative Championship One against Gateshead Thunder, which is also at home.

His absence ends a run of 44 consecutive appearances in the Oldham jersey, stretching back to July, 2009 and including an ever-present record in 2010. In those 44 games he scored 28 tries.

His ban arose from an incident in the Swinton game at The Willows on February 20 when Lions stand-off Martin Ainscough was hurt while trying to tackle the strong-running Kenyan.

Play was held up while Ainscough was treated, but the incident was not placed on report, nor were Oldham penalised.

It was the RFL’s match review panel, who scrutinise every DVD of every match, who warned Onyango there was a case to answer.

Accompanied and supported by Roughyeds chairman Chris Hamilton, the winger pleaded not guilty to a charge of misconduct or, more specifically, “reckless use of a forearm”.

In another disciplinary decision, Halifax’s Sam Barlow escaped a ban although he was found guilty of a late tackle on Valu Bentley in the Oldham game at The Shay on February 13.

Bentley was knocked out; took no further part in the game; and also missed Oldham’s next match against Swinton when he was left out as a precautionary measure following a head injury.

The disciplinary panel ruled that Barlow was punished sufficiently by the on-field report and the penalty that was awarded to Oldham.

Roughyeds’ season-ticket holders are reminded that, unlike most cup ties, Sunday’s Carnegie clash with Hunslet Warriors is one at which season tickets can be used. They must be produced at the turnstile as normal.


THE Roughyeds’ Supporters’ Association (ORSA) meets at the Whitebank Stadium on Friday (8pm). All fans are invited to attend, but only members can vote.
The association will stage a quiz night at the Stadium on Friday, April 8 (8pm) and join up with Higginshaw ARL Club on Friday, May 6 to put on a race night at the St Stephen’s Club.

Fans wishing to join ORSA can do so at Friday’s meeting or by contacting Paul Whalley on 07796 631192 or by email to PW4856@aol.com