Cookson out to cap season in style

Date published: 30 September 2014


DAVID Cookson is ready to go into Grand Final battle for Oldham with his gashed head protected by a scrum cap.

"I hope it still fits," said the big centre, who last wore it a year ago in the play-off final against Rochdale to cover stitches in his chin.

This time he will be covering up a forehead wound that needed four surgical staples after a clash of heads with team-mate Kenny Hughes in the 31-12 semi-final win at York.

Cookson - 26 tomorrow - wasn't able to take part in last week's heavy contact work in training but, starting tonight, he will train with the rest of the squad, wearing the head guard to get used to it ahead of Sunday's final showdown with Hunslet Hawks at Headingley, Leeds.

On Sunday as one of the Roughyeds' defensive big guns he will be out to take care of the threat from his opposing centres, Danny Maun and Lee Brickwood.

"I think we learned a lot when beaten by Rochdale last year," said Cookson. "We are a much more experienced side now and the occasion shouldn't be anything like as daunting. We've had two cracking wins already in this play-off series. There's a good feeling at the club and we're certainly due to get the bounce of the ball in a play-off final.”

Oldham boss Scott Naylor expects to be selecting from a fully-fit squad, with the exception of Brett Robinson, who has been out with ankle ligament damage.

Match tickets are on sale every night this week at Whitebank (5pm-7pm).