Hamilton’s plea for support

CHRIS HAMILTON

OLDHAM RL chairman Chris Hamilton has issued a rallying call to supporters in the build-up to the start of the new League One season at Easter.

Only 547 fans watched the Roughyeds win TWO cup-ties at Whitebank - both against RFL newcomers Coventry Bears.

Derby rivals Rochdale Hornets and Swinton Lions suffered similarly on the very cold first of those days - Hornets pulling in only 260 beating South Wales at Spotland, while Swinton had 349 against Hemel Stags. The average across the other 10 Challenge Cup ties last Sunday was 314.

Said Hamilton: “For the second Sunday in a row the weather wasn’t brilliant and it probably didn’t help because we were playing the same team we had beaten 42-6 the week before.

“Unless we are drawn at home in the next round, our next game at Whitebank will be our first home league game on Sunday, April 12, also against Coventry.

“We can’t make people come. And there is no easy answer. “But we have to keep going and the hope is that crowds will increase as we get further into the season, especially if the team continues to play well.

“We’ve played some great rugby in our two cup-ties, scoring 16 tries, some of them beauties, and in each of the ties conceding only one try. We have to be happy at scoring 42 and 46 in conditions that didn’t suit our style, but we’re also mindful this Sunday’s game at Barrow will be a totally different type of challenge.”

The draw for round four of the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup will be made at 6.45pm today at the Provident Stadium, Bradford.