Roughyeds line up Leigh friendly trip

TONY BENSON will take his Roughyeds side to the smart new Leigh Sports Village Stadium for a pre-season friendly against his old employers.

The game will take place on Sunday, January 25 (3pm kick-off) and was finalised yesterday after Leigh’s original opponents Rochdale, who went into administration this week, informed the Co-operative Championship club that they wouldn’t be able to fulfil the fixture.

With five former Leigh men in the squad, it is a prospect that Oldham’s players, spectators and coach — Benson led the Centurions to the Northern Rail Cup title in 2006 — will all relish.

“There have been extensive links between the clubs for a number of years and for most of our lads it will be more of a home game than coming over to Oldham,” said Roughyeds chief executive Chris Hamilton.

“We went over to the stadium yesterday and it is a great facility, one I am sure players will enjoy playing in and fans will enjoy watching from.”

Only one rugby league fixture has so far been held at the 12,700 capacity venue, with a crowd of 4,714 drawn to see Leigh lose 26-6 to Salford on December 28.

The game is all-ticket and purchases can be made at the Oldham club from 9am onwards on Monday morning. The offices on Lansdowne Road will remain open until 6pm on weeknights next week and prices are £12 (adults) and £5 (concessions).

Fans can pay at the ground on the day, but will have to buy a ticket first before being allowed through the turnstiles.

Meanwhile, Roughyeds officials have received confirmation from the RFL that any new Rochdale club will take part in the Northern Rail Cup, a competition which pits the two rivals together at Boundary Park on Sunday, February 8.

o MICK Slicker has rejoined Friday night’s Boundary Park opponents Huddersfield as their head scholarship coach.

The 30-year-old Oldhamer, who until recently had been working with Waterhead’s under-18s side, played for the Giants for four years prior to suffering a serious knee injury which forced his retirement in 2005.