Roughyeds friendly called off

THE testimonial game for Paul Highton between Salford and Oldham will NOT take place this weekend.

The fixture, arranged a week ago, was down to take place at The Willows on Sunday, January 4, with an unspecified kick-off time.

But with office staff at the Super League club finishing for the Christmas break last Tuesday, it was decided there wasn’t enough time available to promote the contest. A switch to an Oldham venue was mooted but that also fell down for the same reason.

The hope is that a match between the two sides can still be arranged at some point before the 2009 season starts.

As for Highton himself, the 32-year-old prop forward is aiming to use the pre-season programme to get up to full speed by the time the 2009 campaign starts.

“I am going to be quite cautious in terms of what I do in the friendlies,” said the former Salford man, who is on the way back to fitness following post-season wrist surgery.

“But I will definitely be right for the start of the season and should be flying by then.”

The no-go this weekend means that as it stands, the Roughyeds’ first pre-season fixture is against Swinton on Sunday, January 11, a game which serves as a joint testimonial for Oldham reserves coach John Hough and Lions full-back Wayne English.