Coyle escapes threat of ban

JAMES COYLE: The influential Roughyeds scrum-half has escaped a possible suspension.

AFTER avoiding one banana skin at Workington Town, Oldham have revealed they side-stepped another with regards to scrum-half James Coyle.

The 22-year-old was placed on report for an alleged dangerous tackle just before the hour mark in the game against Gateshead Thunder and club officials feared the worst — particularly given the RFL’s clamp down on tackles in which players’ legs are lifted beyond the horizontal.

But after studying a DVD of the incident, the disciplinary committee ruled it inconclusive.

Instead of picking up a costly ban, Coyle will be sent a warning letter and can now concentrate on preparing to take to the field in Friday night’s crucial promotion clash against Barrow at Craven Park.

“In fairness, there was nothing malicious at all in the tackle,” said a relieved Roughyeds chief executive Chris Hamilton.

A number of other players face a race against time to be fit for that game, having picked up knocks in a typically bruising battle at Workington.

Said Tamghart (knee), Rob Roberts (hand), Paul O’Connor (ankle), Marcus St Hilaire (hamstring) and Daryl Cardiss (shoulder) are among eight players who will be in tonight for a rehab session following the last-gasp 16-14 win at Derwent Park.

At this stage, none of the injuries are thought to be too serious.

Oldham’s National League Two rivals Doncaster suffered a 60-0 thrashing at the hands of Salford City Reds in the Northern Rail Cup final in Blackpool yesterday afternoon.

Ellery Hanley’s side, who travel to face Oldham in the free-entry match at Boundary Park a week on Thursday, now have to pick themselves up in order to face an away game against Swinton Lions on Wednesday night.

o THE club apologises to anyone who travelled to the cancelled reserves fixture against Workington Town at Sedgley Park on Saturday afternoon.

A phone call was only received at 10.45am on the morning of the game to inform Oldham that their opponents couldn’t raise a team.