Foster loan deal glee for Oldham

LEWIS FOSTER has impressed in his loan spell

OLDHAM RL Club have successfully negotiated, with Leigh Centurions, an extension of Lewis Foster's loan agreement.

The 22-year-old hooker's initial one-month stay was up after last Friday's win at Sheffield, but after this latest round of talks he can continue to play for Roughyeds in their battle to avoid relegation from the Kingstone Press Championship.

His extended stay will be viewed by coach Scott Naylor and his backroom team as a 'real deal' for the squad ahead of Sunday's crucial derby battle with Swinton Lions at Bower Fold (3pm kick-off).

Tied to Centurions on a full-time contract to the end of 2017, the former St Helens youngster earned his spurs at Leigh Sports Village by playing a starring role in Paul Anderson's all-conquering reserves team of 2014.

Described on the Leigh website as "an outstanding prospect for the future", Foster has played in Oldham's last five games, playing key roles in wins against Whitehaven and Sheffield where he scored the match-clinching try.

Roughyeds chairman Chris Hamilton said: "Lewis has shown his capabilities and we are delighted to be keeping him as we head towards the business end of the season."

While one player is staying, another has left.

Centre Jon Ford, also 22, has been dogged by a knee injury for most of the season and the club has announced that the former Salford Red Devils youngster has been released.

Club and player have reached a compromise agreement on his contract, which runs to November 30 this year.

Hamilton explained: "Jon has been struggling because of his knee problem and he's unlikely to play again this year.

"It was in the best interests of both parties that we reached this agreement.

"He can now concentrate on getting fit in the hope that he can play again at some point in the future."

Ford played three consecutive games in March, scoring two tries, but he didn't play before that and he hasn't played since.

He was in his first season as a fully-fledged Oldham player, but he played on loan from Salford in 2013, 2014 and 2015, top-scoring in his first season with 21 tries in 15 games.

In total, he had the remarkable scoring record of 47 tries in 50 games for Oldham.