Roughyeds look for crowd boost

ROUGHYEDS officials are hopeful that the prospect of Sunday’s vital Co-operative Championship One showdown at Boundary Park will draw in a big crowd.

Dewsbury, unbeaten in the league so far, are the visitors as the division’s joint pre-season title favourites go head-to-head.

It is a game Oldham simply cannot afford to lose if they are not to fall further behind in the quest for top spot — which brings with it automatic promotion and a £50,000 prize.

“This is one of the biggest games of the year for us and it is fair to say that we are not comfortable being third in the table,” admitted Oldham coach Tony Benson.

“It is big for everyone involved with the club and it pits together two sides who were kept apart by being in separate halves of the Northern Rail Cup draw.

“Now we get the chance to come together, it is a game that will provide us with the chance to see where we are both at.”

While Oldham officials were relatively pleased with the 1,000-plus attendance figures from home Northern Rail Cup games against Rochdale and Sheffield in February, crowds for the last four home matches have dipped under the 900 mark.

Said chief executive Chris Hamilton: “We have to see more people through the turnstiles because recent attendances, after a promising start, have been disappointing.

“We believe the team is providing great value for money and that the club is doing all it can to give supporters something worth backing.

“It promises to be a cracking match with a great atmosphere.”

Phil Joseph (hip and groin) is a big injury concern for Benson ahead of the Dewsbury game, but Paul Highton (wrist) and Tommy Goulden (hamstring) are both expected to return to the squad.

The results of Robert Roberts’ x-ray on his rib injury confirmed there is no break and he is now expected to be out for another two weeks.


OLDHAM’S reserves kick off the new league season with a home game against Hunslet at Sedgley Park tomorrow evening (7.30pm). The team is sponsored by the Rugby Oldham supporters’ trust for the second season running.