Roden to face tough opening

NEIL Roden faces a baptism of fire in his new job as boss of Oldham RL Club’s under-20s squad.

The player-turned-coach’s first five games in charge of the Whitebank youngsters will be against some of the strongest clubs in the higher Championship division — Leigh, Sheffield (twice), Featherstone and Halifax.

“They don’t come much tougher than that,” said Roden, whose first league game in charge will be against Leigh at Whitebank on Saturday, March 8 (2.30pm).

They will have three midweek games at Keighley, Leigh and Halifax.

Oldham’s under-20s fixtures are (2.30pm starts): March 8: Leigh Centurions H; March 22, Sheffield (A) 2pm; March 29, Featherstone (H); April 12: Halifax (H); April 26, Sheffield (A) 2pm; May 3: NE Academy (H); May 10, Midlands Academy (A); May 24, Cumbria Academy (A); May 31, Sheffield Eagles (H); June 12: Keighley (A) 7:30pm; June 21, Featherstone (A); July 5: Halifax (H); July 12, Gloucester (H); July 30, Leigh (A) 7:30pm; August 9: Keighley (H); August 14, Halifax (A) 7:30pm.



OLDHAM RL’s pre-season friendly against Leigh Centurions at Whitebank on Saturday was postponed due to the weather