Oldham out to derail Iestyn

OLDHAM will go face-to-face with home-town boy Iestyn Harris in the quarter-finals of the Northern Rail Cup.

Coach Tony Benson’s team have been drawn at home to Featherstone Rovers, where Harris (32) - a Challenge Cup and Super League winner with Leeds Rhinos and Bradford Bulls - is player-coach.

The Roughyeds are waiting to discover if the last-eight tie will be televised. If so, it will take place on Thursday, June 4, otherwise it will go ahead three days later on Sunday, June 7.

However, Oldham will have to find an alternative venue as the Boundary Park pitch will be undergoing remedial work at the end of the football season.

These two teams last met in the 2007 National League Two play-off final at Headingley when Rovers emerged victorious to gain promotion.

Benson said: “It’s a tough draw but a good one, because at that stage of the season both teams should be reaching their peak. It will also tell us where we are in terms of competing at the next level.”

Draw: Widnes v York; Oldham v Featherstone; Halifax v Leigh; Barrow v Dewsbury.

Meanwhile, Benson has named a 21-man squad for Sunday’s visit to Keighley Cougars. Big-match preview on Page 32.

Oldham (from): O’Connor, Ballard, St Hilaire, Greenwood, Halliwell, Reilly, Onyango, T Coyle, J Coyle, Roden, Highton, Kerr, I’Anson, Mervill, Menzies, Allen, Goulden, Baines, Roberts, Sykes Joseph.