Lepori’s Skolars focus

BACK from his Italian job, Richard Lepori is determined to make up for lost time by helping Oldham RL to conquer London Skolars in Sunday’s big game at Whitebank.

He followed up a try hat-trick on his Italian debut in July by producing a man-of-the-match performance in a 32-20 win against Serbia in Este, a small town in the Veneto region of northern Italy.

The win clinched Italy second place in the final European Shield table — and hopefully enhanced the Oldham full-back’s dream of making it into the World Cup squad.

Lepori (21) said he was “gutted” when he got off the plane in Manchester, rang Roughyeds skipper Lewis Palfrey and was told Oldham had failed to win after a 23-22 loss against Rochdale Hornets.

In-form Skolars now stand between Oldham and a rematch with derby rivals Rochdale in the final at Leigh Sports Village on September 29 for the right to be promoted.

Lepori said: “I’m focused on only one thing now, and that’s getting the job done against Skolars.

“The Rochdale defeat might be a blessing in disguise, because it gives us another game.

“Lewis (Palfrey) has given me the run-down on what happened last Sunday and we’re determined to learn from that and not make the same mistakes again.