Young Roughyeds pair rewarded

BEN HEATON and Chris Clarke have been rewarded for their efforts last season by being promoted to the full first-team squad.

The young pair, both first-year professionals in 2009, have joined in with all of the pre-season training sessions under coach Tony Benson so far and big things are expected of them when the season starts.

Heaton has already shown glimpses of his major potential. The 19-year-old centre scored a superb fifth-minute try against York in the play-offs towards the end of last season having been handed his first start.

That was his second first team appearance, having also caught the eye off the bench in an earlier Co-operative Championship One defeat at Dewsbury.

Back-row forward Clarke was hampered by injuries last season but sufficiently impressed in the reserves for Benson to push for his promotion.

“The two players made the most progress of the four first-year professionals last year,” said Roughyeds chairman Chris Hamilton.

“Ben made the most of his opportunity in the first team and we are hoping he kicks on, while when Chris was fit he was knocking on the door.

“It is a great opportunity for them both.”

The other two first-year professionals from last season, Scott Mansfield and Mark Smith, will stay on with the club and the hope is that they too will make progress towards first-team spots in 2010.

The club also confirmed that a number of other players from last season’s reserves squad have been spoken to with regard to contract offers being made.


FORMER Oldham RL prop forward Brian Hughes has died in a care home in Castleford after a long illness.

Hughes, who will be remembered as a tough prop forward who never gave less than his best in Oldham’s cause, played in 104 games for the club between 1973-4 and 1978-9.