Roberts has sights set on final

ROUGHYEDS skipper Robert Roberts believes that the goal of a Blackpool final will provide his side with all the incentive they need to put on a top-of-the-bill show tomorrow night.

‘Two Bobs’ first tasted victory in the Northern Rail Cup, then known as the Buddies Cup, in 2002.

He was man-of-the-match as his Huddersfield side — featuring Paul Reilly at full-back — overcame Hull KR 32-6, and followed up that success with a win under current Oldham coach Tony Benson at Leigh, defeating the same opponents 22-18 at Bloomfield Road four years later.

Fellow Roughyeds men Danny Halliwell and Lee Greenwood were also in the Centurions side that day and all will be as aware as Roberts is of exactly what is at stake when Oldham line up against Featherstone in the Northern Rail Cup quarter-finals.

“I love playing in this competition,” said Roberts. “It is a great concept for clubs in the two Co-operative Championship divisions. We are now getting ties televised live by Sky and the final is getting bigger each year.

“Fans used to go to Blackpool for the day. Now they’re going for the weekend and making it a two-day celebration of rugby league.

“It would be fantastic for the club and our fans if we could get to the Blackpool final this year, and that’s why our last-eight clash with Featherstone is so important. There is a lot riding on it.

“It has all the makings of a terrific cup tie and we hope our fans will turn up in force, as they have done on all our travels this season, to get behind us and give us vocal backing.”

Oldham hold a final preparatory training session tonight, with only Thomas Coyle set to be ruled out of the game through injury. Neil Roden, who came off the bench to great effect in the Roughyeds’ last game at Swinton, is set to start at stand-off with James Coyle switching to scrum-half.

A slight doubt hangs over influential second row star Dave Allen, but his calf injury isn’t seen as too serious and the chances are that he will be able to play tomorrow.

Curtain-raising games involving under-nines sides from Waterhead, Oldham St Anne’s and Saddleworth Rangers will start at 6.15pm.