Senior players keen to impress

PADDY Mooney, George Tyson and Liam Thompson, all from the senior squad, will play for Oldham RL under-20s against Halifax at Whitebank tomorrow (2.30pm kick off).

Thompson (22) will finally be making his long-awaited comeback in the second-row after smashing his cheekbone in the 20-20 home draw with Hemel Stags on March 9.

Prop Mooney (20), a former captain of London Broncos' under-19s, will be keen to impress in the

front-row, alongside Richard Joy and in-form hooker Andy Ball.

Tyson, who will be pushing to regain his first-team spot, will pack down alongside Thompson in a

tasty-looking pack.

In the backs, coach Neil Roden introduces two newcomers from the Wigan area in teenagers Chris Dootson and Robbie Valentine. Valentine (18), from amateurs Rose Bridge, plays at centre with 19-year-old Dootson from Leigh East on the wing.

Tom Demspey (17), the youngest professional at Whitebank, keeps the full-back role.

With no first-team game this weekend, Naylor has given his squad time off. They return to training on Tuesday to begin the countdown to a Whitebank clash with form-team Gloucester on July 13.