Focus turns to Challenge Cup

ATTENTIONS switch towards Challenge Cup glory for Oldham this weekend, following a fifth successive Co-operative Championship One victory.

Tony Benson’s side overcame South Wales Scorpions 22-16 in Neath to stay third in the early standings — level on points with top two Hunslet and Blackpool but with an inferior points difference.

It represents a great start to the season for the Roughyeds, who are next in action in a fourth-round tie away at Hunslet Hawks on Sunday (3pm kick-off).

The South Leeds Stadium has already hosted one Oldham triumph this season, with Benson’s men winning 29-16 to inflict the only league defeat of the season so far on player-coach Paul March’s side.

And with the club still on a high after confirming the Whitebank Stadium as their new home, the Roughyeds will hope to get through to to next stage of the competition to land a rare, money-spinning tilt at a Super League giant.

Elsewhere in Championship One, former Castleford and Gateshead coach Dave Woods has been appointed as the new director of rugby at York City Knights.

Gateshead — who Oldham take on in a rearranged ‘home’ clash at Sedgley Park on Saturday, April 24 (7.30pm kick-off) — have brought back their former coach Andy Kelly as part of the backroom staff at the club.