St Hilaire tonic for Oldham

MARCUS ST HILAIRE has handed Roughyeds coach Tony Benson a boost in the build up to Sunday’s Northern Rail Cup opener at Leigh Centurions.

The former Super League star has recovered from hamstring trouble and will feature in tonight’s Law Cup derby against Hornets RL at Castleton (kick-off 7.30pm).

Benson will not pick from a squad of 22 until the Roughyeds party arrives at Mayfield Sports Centre, but he knows that St Hilaire needs a run out and he has hinted that the Yorkshireman will line-up at left-centre.

He said: “Gary Sykes also needs to get some time on the field,” said Benson, “and I would like to see how Ben Heaton goes at full-back.

“Other than that I will be looking at one of the three young props — Jack Graves, Jacob Kinney or Ben Mellor — to possibly play at Leigh on Sunday.”

Mellor, formerly of Warrington Wolves, will make his Roughyeds debut while former Wigan Warriors pair Mike Priest and Luke Rhoden will wear first-team jerseys for the first time after impressing in the reserves towards the end of last season.

Four young players who have been training with the reserves under John Hough might also get a chance to show what they can do.

Michael Diveney, Mark Kellett and Mike Cadd are new names to hit the Roughyeds scene. Jamie Knight performed well in the early part of last season before his campaign was cut short by injury.

Diveney, a product of the local amateur game, has spent the last few years at Wigan but he is now back in familiar surroundings

His background is similar to that of Mark Brocklehurst — one of six Oldhamers in tonight’s squad.

Hornets, holders of the Law Cup, have several former Roughyeds players, among them Wayne Corcoran, Dean Gorton and evergreen Chris Hough.

Oldham (from): Heaton, Rhoden, Knight, Reilly, St Hilaire, Priest, Brocklehurst, Kellett, Coates, N Roden, Smith, Diveney, Kinney, Kerr, Sykes, Cadd, Barrowclough, Graves, Mellor, Ward, Brand, Mansfield.


FANS going to the Mayfield Sports Centre should approach by Keswick Street off Manchester Road, Castleton (opposite the Farewell Inn) and NOT along the route used in previous years, along Heywood Road. Admission is £10 adults and £5 concessions.