Roughyeds face Giants friendly

HUDDERSFIELD Giants are to provide the opposition for Oldham in a pre-season Boundary Park clash.

The go-getting Super League side are to send a team across the Pennines for a friendly clash on Sunday, January 25 (3pm kick off) which is sure to particularly excite the ex-Giants on the Roughyeds’ books.

Paul Reilly, a Huddersfield legend who had his testimonial season with the club two years ago, will get the chance to take on his old employers in an Oldham shirt and there are also strong connections with the West Yorkshire outfit in the shape of former players Marcus St Hilaire, Rob Roberts and Phil Joseph.

“It is a few years since we played Huddersfield now and it will be good to renew rivalries,” said Roughyeds chief executive Chris Hamilton.

“It will be a good test for us and it is an attractive fixture. The way the Giants are going, with their big push on season tickets and a high-profile new coach in Nathan Brown, they could be in for a big season and both teams will be keen to impress.”

Huddersfield have sold over 5,000 season tickets for next year after slashing the prices to under £100 per adult and with promising youngsters such as Michael Lawrence and Leroy Cudjoe on board, allied to star signings such as former Canberra Raiders star Todd Carney — though visa problems mean the controversial Australian half-back hasn’t yet arrived — hopes are high for a positive season in Super League.

The two sides last locked horns in the Northern Ford Premiership in 2002, the same season the Giants triumphed 36-16 against Oldham in the quarter-final of the National League Cup before going on to claim the title.

The friendly is Oldham’s second in pre-season, following a trip to Swinton on Sunday, January 11, with another fixture set to be finalised soon.


WATERHEAD have been given a bye to the second round of the Carnegie Challenge Cup, but Oldham St Anne’s and Saddleworth Rangers face tough tests.

The draw, made in Leeds last night, has presented St Anne’s with a home tie against renowned National Conference League premier division side Wigan St Jude’s, while Rangers are away at Eccles and Salford Juniors of NCL division two — the same opposition they beat 22-14 in the BARLA National Cup at the weekend.