Rams raid is put back

THE Boundary Park battle between Oldham and Dewsbury Rams — the joint favourites for Co-operative Championship One — will now take place on Sunday, April 19 (3pm kick off).

The game had been down to be played on the evening of Easter Monday, April 13, following on from Oldham Athletic’s home fixture against Crewe on the same afternoon.

But logistical difficulties have forced the Roughyeds to switch and the clash has now been put back to what was a blank weekend.

“We spoke to Dewsbury about it and while we didn’t want to lose the Easter Monday fixture, factors such as getting the pitch ready, sorting out the sponsors’ lounge and cleaning the ground meant it would have been very tight time-wise,” said Roughyeds chief executive Chris Hamilton.

“In the end we decided it was in everyone’s best interests to push it back to the Sunday, so that we can prepare properly and have full use of the facilities.”

The change of arrangements does at least benefit Oldham coach Tony Benson.

Instead of having only two clear days between a derby clash against Rochdale Hornets at Spotland on Good Friday, his squad now has over a week in which to concentrate on preparing to take on the Rams.

Benson, whose team tackles Blackpool Panthers at Boundary Park in the first league fixture of the season on Sunday, will use a friendly away at Keighley Cougars tomorrow night (7.30pm kick off) to give a number of his squad players a run-out.