Roughyeds take to the great outdoors

ROUGHYEDS coach Tony Benson and his players will head out on to the field for a daytime training session today, as preparations continue ahead of the club’s first pre-season game of 2009.

The cold snap this week has resulted in frozen surfaces which have meant that all the sessions so far have been based in the gym, rather than taking in scheduled ball work.

But today’s let-up in the weather has been coupled with most of the squad being free of work commitments, providing a timely boost ahead of next Sunday’s game at Swinton.

The first of two friendlies to take place before the start of the competitive season, that fixture at Sedgley Park on Sunday, January 11, is a joint testimonial for Roughyeds reserves team coach John Hough and long-standing Lions full-back Wayne English.

The next game is a home clash with Huddersfield Giants at Boundary Park on Sunday, January 25, while a friendly with Leeds Rhinos will take place at the same venue on Tuesday, February 17, by which time Oldham will have played out two Northern Rail Cup matches.

Meanwhile, club officials continue to make positive noises about season ticket sales. The first deadline for the heaviest discounts expired on New Year’s Eve, but with smaller price cuts still in operation the hope is that the numbers will continue to grow before the season begins.

“We haven’t sat down to come up with any totals yet, but we are really pleased with the sales up to the first deadline,” said chief executive Chris Hamilton.