Deakin looks for fitness boost

ROUGHYEDS coach Steve Deakin has a clear goal in terms of preparation for the crunch play-off tie with Doncaster: to get a full squad of 22 players in full training.

Including tonight’s session, the squad will meet up seven times between now and the qualifying play-off clash against Ellery Hanley’s men.

At the moment, a number of players are still struggling with injuries. A total of 12 ran last night, with those carrying lower-body knocks doing other work — including trio Jason Boults, Marcus St Hilaire and Daryl Cardiss, who all went in for a swimming pool session.

But Deakin is hopeful that the three-week break between the final game of the National League Two season and the Doncaster clash will be enough to give broken bodies a chance to heal.

“With Sunday’s session and last night’s, we have had a decent start to our preparation,” Deakin said. “But I will feel better if we can have everyone back on the pitch at the back end of the week.”




SEASON ticket holders are reminded that the qualifying play-off match against Doncaster at Boundary Park on Sunday, September 14, is an all-pay game.






HULL FC scrum-half James Webster has been given the green light to make his debut in the derby clash against his old club on Sunday. The 29-year-old Australian, released by Hull KR earlier this season, has been granted British citizenship.