‘Blond bomber’ aims for return

George Tyson powers through the last tackle to score for Oldham during the Hemel Stags game in early June

GEORGE Tyson is keen to regain his Oldham first-team spot after injury and will play for the under-20s at Whitebank on Saturday.

The 20-year-old back-row man, on long-term loan from Salford, is likely to pack down alongside Liam Thompson against Halifax (kick-off 2.30pm). Loose-forward Thompson has been out for three months with a fractured cheekbone.

Both will be keen to prove their fitness ahead of three crucial first-team games this month against Gloucester, York and Hunslet.

Fan-favourite Tyson, dubbed the ‘blond bomber’, hobbled off with a damaged ankle and sore back near the end of the 58-2 hammering of South Wales at Whitebank on June 15.

He missed the 32-14 win at Gateshead and 38-22 win at Oxford.

“George is fit to go again and I think both he and Thompson will be in the side against Halifax,” said under-20s coach Neil Roden.

Roden will finalise his squad at training tomorrow night and with no first-team game this weekend he might have at least one more senior player in the side.


HOOKER Danny Whitmore, suspended for one game by the RFL for punching an opponent at Gateshead, will miss the home game against in-form Gloucester All Golds on Sunday week, July 13 (3pm kick off).

Oldham thought the ban might be covered by Saturday’s under-20s game (as there is no first team game), a hope rejected by the RFL.


THREE Oldham players — winger Dale Bloomfield and forwards Phil Joy and Danny Langtree — are in the Kingstone Press Championship One team of the week after playing well at Oxford.

Top team: Sheriff (Gateshead); Bloomfield (OLDHAM), Mulkeen (Oxford), Maun (Hunslet), Ward (Gloucester); Meads (Gateshead), Smith (York); Brennan (York), Cook (Gloucester), Joy (OLDHAM), Baird (Oxford), Langtree (OLDHAM), Picketts (York).