Oldham on injury watch

MEDICAL staff connected to Oldham Roughyeds will be working overtime in the coming days to try to get as strong a side as possible out for the big Law Cup derby.

Like in the Batley game before it, last night’s 40-20 defeat at Whitehaven contained promising signs as Tony Benson’s team recovered from a 22-0 deficit to ‘win’ the second period 20-18. Report on Page 32.

That was achieved despite playing the entire half without substitutes due to injuries to Craig Robinson (badly broken nose), Saqib Murtza (shoulder), Martin Roden (calf) and Paul Reilly (eye and mild concussion).

And those men are now doubtful for the Hornets RL clash at Spotland on Sunday, along with fellow injury victims Ben Heaton (mild concussion), Kashley Watkins (broken wrist) and Gary Sykes (wrist), all hurt in the previous 54-16 loss at Batley.

On the positive side, Benson will have been pleased with solid performances from four of last season’s reserves squad — Scott Mansfield, Chris Clarke, Jacob Kinney and Michael Ward — in a tough Cumbrian arena.

Kinney lived up to his nickname ‘Tank’ and built on his promising effort at Batley, while Clarke scored one try and made another.

Craig Littler came through his run-out without any problems after recovering from a long-standing hamstring injury, while Danny Whitmore made an impression at scrum-half in both attack and defence.

Selection for the short trip to Rochdale will now hinge on availability and Benson will hope to blood some of those players who have yet to turn out in the friendlies so far.

Neil Roden, Ben Mellor, Joe Chandler, Ben Marsden, Luke Rhoden and Marcus St Hilaire have all yet to play before of the start of the Northern Rail Cup, which begins with an away game at Leigh on Sunday, January 31.