Joseph returns to boost Roughyeds

PHIL JOSEPH has recovered from the hip and groin problem which has plagued him over the past month and takes his place in the Roughyeds squad to face Hunslet.

The versatile back row forward or hooker has missed four matches with the injury but has responded well to treatment of late and boosts coach Tony Benson’s options for the Sunday clash at Boundary Park.

Captain Robert Roberts, who went for a precautionary x-ray on an ankle injury he suffered in last week’s 34-16 Carnegie Challenge Cup loss to Gateshead, has been given the green light to carry on playing but the news isn’t so good on Tommy Goulden.

The former Rochdale player, a try scorer at the Darlington Arena last week, picked up an eye injury and will sit out the Hawks clash, along with Wayne Kerr (knee).

Benson feels preparations for the Co-operative Championship One clash have gone well.

“We had a good opposed session against our reserves last night, who also impressed,” said Benson, who later took his squad for a meal at the Bower Hotel as a team-building exercise.

Opposite number Graeme Hallas is hopeful that his side’s recent home win over Workington can spur third-placed Hunslet on to bigger achievements.

“We just did enough to get the job done but we were a little bit low,” said Hallas, who is without long-term injury Jason Hart. “It might be a bit of a wake-up call for us.”

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


OLDHAM’S reserves are in action tonight, away at Hunslet Hawks (8pm kick off) boosted by the presence of first-team men Luke Menzies, Anthony Bingham and Mark Smith.


RUGBY Oldham are hopeful of a good turn-out for their AGM at the Clayton Green Premier Inn this Sunday, starting at 1.30pm.