Oldham confirm cup-tie venue

OLDHAM Roughyeds will be back at Sedgley Park for their Carnegie Challenge Cup third round tie against Blackwood Bulldogs, the club have confirmed.

The ‘home’ game against the Welsh amateur outfit will take place on Sunday, (3pm kick-off) at the same Whitefield venue that the Oldham club have used twice already this season, as officials continue in their efforts to finally secure the Whitebank Stadium in Limeside as a permanent base.

Yesterday’s game against Swinton Lions, the opener of the new Co-operative Championship One season, was also at Sedgley Park but was designated as an ‘away’ game.

It was won 38-20 and in highly impressive fashion by the Roughyeds, whose next league match pits them against another well-fancied team in Hunslet Hawks at home in two weeks’ time.

Before then, though, Wayne Kerr will face an RFL disciplinary hearing after being dismissed in the final minute against the Lions.

The big Irish prop got involved in a fight with Swinton’s Ian Watson and both men were given red cards by referee Craig Halloran.

The governing body will now examine video footage before deciding whether anyone else will be hauled in front of them a week tomorrow, with the brawl spreading in pockets right across the field.

Roughyeds coach Tony Benson reported no serious injury worries following the Swinton game.

The outstanding Mick Fogerty picked up a cut on his head but had it strapped up and was able to play on, while Valu Bentley (hamstring) came through a late fitness test and took to the field at loose forward without any problems.