Ex-Oldham assistant hit by 12-month ban

MARK CASS: Betting on Roughyeds matches.

FORMER Roughyeds assistant coach Mark Cass has been banned for 12 months by an RFL Tribunal after being found to have breached betting rules.

The 38-year-old placed £400 on Oldham losing to Dewsbury by more than 18 points last year. The bet was lodged on the same day that the news was made public that four high-profile players had left the club to join Barrow, with a further four ruled out through injury.

Cass was sacked by the club for “gross misconduct” when officials learned of the Dewsbury bet. The RFL also found that he bet on nine other matches involving Oldham.

At the tribunal, Cass admitted betting on matches but claimed his wager on July 24, 2009, had been “for a friend,” who he declined to identify.

The Tribunal suspended Cass for a year and fined him £100, with the start of the suspension going back to July 29, 2009, the date Cass was dismissed by Oldham.

Meanwhile, Roughyeds boss Tony Benson is keeping his feet on the ground despite a highly promising opening-day display from his side at Leigh.

Gutsy Roughyeds fell to a 24-12 defeat at big-spending Leigh in the first Northern Rail Cup pool game of the 2010 season.

With local rivals Hornets RL to play at home this Sunday — an official announcement concerning the venue is expected early this week — Benson is concentrating on gradually putting together a successful side.

“These are very early days in the season,” he said.

“As a group we know there is a lot of work to do and a lot of improvements to be made.

“What I can say is that we are all ready for the challenge and all geared up to do the necessary work.”

The Roughyeds kicked off the season wearing special shirts featuring one-off sponsors Holland’s Pies.

Guy Brooks, national accounts manager for the Accrington-based company’s, was a guest of the Oldham club at yesterday’s game.

“We supply 95-per-cent of the chip shops in Oldham,” he said. “So we were pleased to get involved with Roughyeds. Pies and rugby league, and other sports like football, sit snugly together.”

Club chairman Chris Hamilton explained that the sponsorship was for one game only and that it was on that basis that the club had approached the company.

“They are a well-known brand and we are delighted to form an association with Holland’s,” he added.

The 12-point losing margin at snowy Leigh hands Tony Benson’s men the consolation of a bonus point.