Early cup start

FANS planning to attend Oldham’s Carnegie Challenge Cup clash against French Elite League side Lezignan Sangliers face an earlier sitting for their Sunday roast.

The fourth-round clash at Boundary Park on April 5 will start at 2pm after an appeal from their opponents.

The visitors from across the Channel originally wanted to play on the Saturday, but the two parties have agreed to bring the kick-off time forward instead.

Oldham chief executive Chris Hamilton said: “It’s all to do with Lezignan’s travel commitments and their need to fly back to France on Sunday straight after the game.”

It is the first time the Roughyeds have drawn French opposition.

Lezignan reached the last-32 stage with an 18-6 win over Workington Town, a video of which Oldham officials will be studying closely before the big day.

Roughyeds coach Tony Benson has no new injury worries in the lead-up to Sunday’s game at Keighley Cougars in The Co-operative Championship One.

Phil Joseph took a bang on the knee during the opening day 36-18 defeat of Blackpool Panthers but should be okay for the trip to West Yorkshire, while Tommy Goulden is expected to recover from a dead leg.