Roughyeds tune in to cup-tie rivals

OLDHAM’S players will convene tonight as a group to take a look at their next opponents.

Featherstone Rovers are in home action against Leigh at Post Office Road in a Co-operative Championship match broadcast live on Sky Sports.

The Roughyeds squad and coaching staff are sure to be examining the broadcast carefully. In a week’s time, Oldham meet Featherstone in a ‘home’ Northern Rail Cup quarter-final which takes place at Leigh Sports Village.

The only current injury problem ahead of that encounter concerns scrum-half Thomas Coyle. While an x-ray on his damaged ankle has come back showing no break, there is ligament damage and a scan is being arranged in order to assess the extent of the injury.

The early indications this week was that it wasn’t as bad as first feared, probably keeping Coyle out of action for around a month. He will again be monitored carefully in training tonight.

Oldham officials are hopeful of taking a large number of fans across to Leigh for the televised Featherstone clash next Thursday, particularly bearing in mind there are no games — and therefore no income from gate receipts — at Boundary Park until mid-July.

As with all cup ties, receipts on the night will be shared.

“We hope as many fans as possible will make a special effort to back us at this game because it is an important game for us and as it is going out on TV across the country it is also a big night for the club in general terms,” said chief executive Chris Hamilton.

Oldham have no game this weekend, but the reserves are in action against Barrow at Sedgley Park on Saturday (2.30pm kick off).