Confident Ward raring to go

Date published: 24 September 2013


OLDHAM RL prop Michael Ward insists defeat to Rochdale in Sunday’s Championship One play-off final “isn’t an option”.

The 22-year-old maths teacher, who will stay with Roughyeds next season, says confidence is high after putting 64 points past London Skolars at the weekend.

Prominently featured on coach Scott Naylor’s signing hit list, Ward has joined his fellow forwards Phil Joy, Danny Langtree, Sam Gee and Josh Crowley on Roughyeds’ roster in 2014.

Ward, who teaches at New Charter Academy in Ashton, said he was pleased to get signing talks out of the way before this Sunday’s showdown with Hornets at Leigh.

“We’ve had a productive year, with the best team I’ve ever played in,” said Ward, who initially joined his home-town club as a 16-year-old winger. “Now I can’t wait to get on the pitch in the final. We’re a confident camp.

“If we can reproduce a performance like the one that stung London Skolars the score will take care of itself. In any case we owe Rochdale one.”

Roughyeds head for their fifth final in seven years, buoyed by the selection of full-back Richard Lepori and centre Jon Ford in the Championship One all-stars team of the season.

Ford’s 19 tries in league and play-offs make him the most prolific try scorer in the division, while Lepori and hooker Adam Files are among five nominees for the young player of the year award, to be presented at Thursday's Kingstone Press end-of-season dinner.

Club chairman Chris Hamilton has urged Oldhamers to get behind Roughyeds’ bid to win promotion after seven years in the sport’s third tier.

He said: “The players are worthy finalists and they fully deserve to have a huge Oldham following for what they have achieved already this season.”

Seat tickets priced at £15 and £20 (concessions £10) are on sale from Whitebank each day up to and including Friday from 10am to 1pm and from 5pm to 6.30pm. Coach travel is available at £10.