Oldham’s in a good place – Holmes

OLDHAM RL Club’s young centre Jack Holmes believes the Roughyeds can give a good account of themselves in Sunday’s cup-tie against Sheffield Eagles.

Nobody expects Scott Naylor’s League One minnows to overturn a big Sheffield side that lies third in the Championship with four wins from five games. They haven’t lost since mid-February.

Major cup upsets are rare in rugby league now, but Oldham take comfort from knowing that on Sunday at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster (3pm kick-off), they will be as well prepared as they can be.

They go into the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup fourth-round tie having amassed 22 tries and 120 points in two wins against Coventry at Whitebank and another at Barrow where after a dodgy start they rattled up 32 unanswered points.

New-boy Holmes (21), the second youngest member of the squad, played full-back in the first game and centre in the other two: “Since joining Oldham I’ve got my confidence back and I’m enjoying rugby again,” said the former Salford and Halifax utility back.

“We have gelled as a team and we are completing a lot more sets than we did in the friendlies. We’ve worked hard on our discipline which has allowed us to stick to our game plans much better.

“Fitness-wise, we’ve been really hammered in pre-season training and its our fitness and stamina that has allowed us to dominate opponents in our three games so far. I’ve never been fitter, even when I was full time at Salford, and I’m sure that goes for a lot of the other lads.”

Medical updates from Oldham’s camp:

Danny Langtree: back in full training with the squad for the first time in several weeks. If he repeats it tonight, without adverse reaction, he will be available for selection.

Michael Ward: did light work with the physio on Tuesday. Said to be “not himself” and will be monitored closely.

George Tyson: fit and ready to go. Taken off near the end at Barrow with cramp, as a precaution.

Lewis Palfrey: excused from heavy contact work this week, but improving daily. Expected to be in the selection mix.