Blackpool win lifts Roughyeds

A DEFEAT for Barrow at Blackpool has handed the Roughyeds a major boost in the race for the National League Two title.

Raiders, who beat Oldham 32-12 only two weeks ago, went down 36-16 to Martin Crompton’s improving outfit at Fylde RUFC, making it a pair of losses in the last two away matches for the previously unbeaten Cumbrian side.

With the top three all facing difficult matches against each other between now and the end of the season, Oldham — still in third, behind Gateshead — are in the hunt not only for automatic promotion but also top spot.

“We are here again,” said Oldham chief executive Chris Hamilton who, along with coach Steve Deakin, refuses to brand such results as ‘shocks’.

“I say the same thing about this division every week but still nobody seems to believe me.”

Six matches remain in Oldham’s regular-season campaign.

Keighley, in fourth, travel to Boundary Park on Sunday and the Roughyeds will in all likelihood have to do without all three of the men who retired injured in last Thursday’s 36-16 win over Doncaster.

Definitely out, for the season, is centre Craig Littler, who suffered a broken jaw in the tackle in the first half and was handed the bad news when returning to hospital on Saturday morning.

Prop Jason Boults, an ever-present in the front row thus far, will be booked in for a scan on suspected knee ligament damage, while Ian Hodson was told last Friday to return to hospital in 10 days’ time, due to the amount of swelling around his badly broken nose.

In addition, Adam Robinson goes in this week for a scan on an injured knee.

Mr Hamilton will today discuss the injuries situation with Deakin in their weekly meeting. The players reconvene for training tonight having been given three days off.