Hamilton keen on cup chance

CHRIS HAMILTON believes that Oldham can emulate last season’s achievement in reaching the quarter-finals of the Carnegie Challenge Cup.

The Roughyeds, winners against Lézignan at the weekend, have been handed an away tie at Gateshead in the fifth round in the only tie not featuring a team from Super League.

While avoiding the game’s big guns in cup draws continues to be something of a speciality for Oldham, the club’s chief executive is not downhearted.

“It is definitely a game that we can win,” said Mr Hamilton. “There is no doubt they will be thinking the same thing, but we showed when we went to Widnes and won earlier this season what we are capable of achieving against sides from the division above us.

“We certainly won’t go there frightened, though at the same time we accept that it will be a difficult game.”

Gateshead reached this stage with a 32-18 win away at struggling Doncaster.

After finishing top of National League Two last season, their form in the newly-branded Co-operative Championship hasn’t been good.

Now coached by Chris Hood following the dismissal of Dave Woods, Thunder currently sit third-bottom of the table on two points, gained in a draw at Batley.

It remains to be seen when and where the tie will take place, as a local junior track and field championship is due to be held at the club’s Gateshead International Stadium home across the Challenge Cup weekend of May 9 and 10.

Carnegie Challenge Cup fifth-round draw: Gateshead v Oldham; Batley v Salford; Castleford v Halifax; Featherstone v Warrington; St Helens v Catalans Dragons; Huddersfield v Rochdale; Hull KR v Sheffield; Wakefield v Wigan.


OLDHAM’S reserves kick off their new season with a home game against Hunslet on Friday, April 17 (7.30pm).

All home matches will again take place at Sedgley Park and admission prices are unchanged at £4 for adults and £2 concessions.