Oldham snap up Bradley after two-try display

OLDHAM Rugby League Club have signed former Halifax youngster Niall Bradley, who scored two tries for the under-20s on Friday in a 46-22 win against Rochdale Hornets at Whitebank.

The Oldham-born 21-year-old centre was reared on rugby at Waterhead amateur club and Hopwood Hall College squad before going to Halifax.

Said Roughyeds boss Scott Naylor: "Niall has been training with us for a couple of months, but he needed minor surgery on a knee so that held things up.

"Friday's game against Rochdale was his first since the operation, but he came through that okay and scored a couple of tries.

"He needs a game or two to regain full match fitness, so he will have to keep working hard and making progress in the under-20s."

Bradley had two seasons in the reserves at Halifax, but was released as part of the shake-up when second-team age-related rugby went to under-20s.

He said: "I've been out of action for a while but it's great to get this opportunity to get back into it with my home town club.”

Bradley is expected to retain his under-20s centre spot against Keighley Cougars at Cougar Park on Thursday night (7.45pm kick-off).



STRENGTHENED by the addition of several new players, Oldham RL under-20s blitzed derby rivals Rochdale Hornets 46-22 at Whitebank.

The Roughyeds youngsters played some scintillating attacking rugby on the back of a strong and mobile pack which formed the platform for loose-forward Liam Thompson and scrum-half Sam Singleton to organise things cleverly in the middle of the field.

Tom Flanagan produced his best game of the season in the pivotal role of stand-off half, as did Mike Halsall at full-back.

Said assistant coach Mark Davenport: "We scored some great tries and played lots of good rugby, but it was our strong defence, right from the first tackles of the game, that set the pattern and won it for us.”