Hough to stay as reserves coach

OLDHAM Roughyeds have confirmed they will run a Reserves team for a third year in a row in 2010, with John Hough staying on as coach.

The 11-club competition, which is due to start in April, features Oldham as well as three other teams from Co-operative Championship One.

Clubs must field at least eight players under the age of 21 in matchday squads of 17.

Having signed four players on two-year deals after the 2008 Reserves season, the club is expected to announce soon that a number of new men have committed to similar contracts as a result of good performances under Hough last term.

Halfway through their current deals are Ben Heaton, Scott Mansfield, Mark Smith and Chris Clarke, with Heaton and Clarke impressing sufficiently to gain promotion to the senior squad for the 2010 campaign.

Rochdale-born Heaton, who can play at full-back or centre, burst onto the scene with three appearances last season, including a start at centre in the 44-14 play-off win at York in which he scored an excellent try.

“Ben demonstrated clearly that the reserve team is a great breeding ground for young talent, and it is important we keep it going,” said Roughyeds chairman Chris Hamilton.

“We want the Reserves to include a lot of local lads who are hopefully going to progress to the first team.

“We have seen in the last two seasons that the youngsters’ level of commitment is every bit as good as that of the first-team players, but without the financial rewards. They hope to carve a career in the sport eventually but they have an awful lot to do before they get to that stage.

“Over the last two seasons we have fielded an exceptionally young Reserves side and they have been asked to face bigger, older and more experienced opponents week in and week out.

“They have sometimes been up against it, but they have lacked nothing in commitment, application and desire — qualities that were a joy to watch.

“The next stage was to draw up a list of players from the 2009 squad whom John Hough and Tony Benson felt were candidates to be offered professional contracts, and developments on that front are now taking shape.”