Roughyeds match brought forward

OLDHAM Roughyeds next scheduled home game against Gateshead Thunder - on the fixture list for Sunday, April 25 - has been brought forward to the night before (7.30pm) at Sedgley Park.

The club’s new home ground in Oldham at the Whitebank Stadium will not be ready until next month.

An alternative venue had to be found, but Swinton Lions are playing at Sedgley Park on April 25 and Sedgley Park RU are at home on the afternoon of the 24th.

Roughyeds have opted to play there that evening and say they are grateful for the Sedgley Park club’s co-operation in accommodating the Oldham game on what will be a hectic weekend at the ground.

Meanwhile, Neil Roden - 30 today - will celebrate his birthday with a quiet family meal tonight and then get himself psyched up for his 238th appearance in the Roughyeds’ jersey.

Sunday’s clash with new club South Wales Scorpions in Neath (2pm kick off) reminds stand-off Roden of a similar challenge that faced Oldham in 2007 when they beat Celtic Crusaders 34-26 at Bridgend, in what was then National League Two, after trailing 22-6 at half-time.

Among the Crusaders’ replacements was a fiery young forward by the name of Jamie I’Anson, now an Oldham player and in contention for a place in the 17-man squad on Sunday.

“We didn’t know a lot about the Crusaders in 2007, but we know even less about the Scorpions,” said Roden. “They have players on dual registration from Crusaders, who are now in Super League, but they are not always available. A lot will hinge on what sort of a side they can put out.

“Either way it’s going to be tough. We didn’t play all that well against Hornets and Workington over Easter, but we dug in to get our wins and I think that says a lot about the side.

“If we do recapture the form we showed in the first two games at Swinton and Hunslet we’ll take some beating.”