Craig geared up for derby battle

Craig Robinson: Set to face his old club.

HAVING crossed the divide, Craig Robinson admits it will be a very different experience at Boundary Park when Oldham take on his old club Rochdale in the first Northern Rail Cup game of the season.

The 23-year-old forward is more used to doing battle against, rather than for, the Roughyeds when it comes to these fiercely contested derby encounters.

However, the hard-working former Wakefield academy player is at least sure of the effort and determination needed in order to compete in the fixtures.

“It will be strange not being in the away dressing room this time,” said Robinson of his new arrangement.

“I do know that is always a big game between these two sides. Rochdale look like they will be quite strong and they will definitely be coming over here to try to prove a point.”

Robinson, the elder brother of former Oldham man Adam who is now at Dewsbury, has played in two of Oldham’s three pre-season matches so far.

He started in the second row in the 28-12 home win over a youthful Huddersfield, missed the away game at Leigh and returned to the starting line-up in the 38-4 defeat at Barrow at the weekend.

Though he retired early in that clash, Robinson wasn’t seriously injured.

“I have been suffering with cramps,” he added. “I’m not sure whether it is to do with training on different surfaces, or whether it’s something to do with my boots. Maybe it is time to invest in a new pair!

“But I am fit now and ready to play.”

Opponents Rochdale have had the most turbulent of off-seasons.

The old club, formed back in 1871, entered into administration following a winding-up order issued by the High Court over an unpaid Inland Revenue bill of £55,000.

Since then, a group of fans have linked up with London-based author, economist and lifelong fan Paul Ormerod, forming a supporters’ co-operative to take over the Championship One club.

Having been given the green light by the RFL to start the season, Rochdale have a total of 18 players signed on at the time of writing, the latest five of whom arrived this week. There is the promise of “two or three” more coming in before the weekend.

Of the players previously contracted to play for the club prior to going into administration, Casey Mayberry, Mick Fogerty, Janan Billings and last year’s top try scorer Martin Ainscough — who was strongly linked with Dewsbury — have all elected to come back.

They are joined by a new signing, ex-Hull KR and Widnes loose forward Tommy Gallagher.

It is an impressive looking line-up, but given their difficulties of late there is no danger of anyone getting carried away.

“We’re not looking too bad, although we are not expecting too much at this stage,” said Hornets coach and former Roughyeds player Darren Shaw.

“We’re just pleased to get a team out there on the field. It is a derby and so the only thing we will possibly run out of is not enthusiasm, but gas.”