Reserves wait to learn their fate

ROUGHYEDS chief executive Chris Hamilton is set to start the process of offering contracts to the prime cuts from the club’s reserves side next week.

Having completed a pleasing first division campaign last week with a 31-30 win away to York, the next step will be to conduct a full review of the season with reserves coach John Hough.

The top performers in a side that ended the season ninth in a 12-team league — above a Dewsbury outfit whose first team won the Co-operative Championship One title at a canter, as well as Championship play-off contenders Sheffield — will hope to follow in the footsteps of the five youngsters who accepted two-year professional deals at the end of last season.

Of that quintet, all have been on the fringes of first-team duty in 2009 with Ben Heaton producing an impressive debut showing away at champions Dewsbury a month ago.

Among those reserve men who will have their futures discussed regarding next season are former Wigan academy men Luke Rhoden and Mike Priest, who arrived at the club in the latter stages of the season along with former Castleford winger Dominic Lespierre.

Ben Seru continued his journey back to full fitness with a run-out for The Army in last night’s Carnegie Floodlit Nines tournament at Headingley.

His team went out in the group stages and the competition was won by Hull FC, who beat Leeds 16-11 in the final.

Roughyeds are currently arranging for a specialist visit for prop forward Richard Mervill, who is out of action with a bicep injury.