Roughyeds pair face fitness fight

MATTY ASHE: Left out for the trip to South Wales.

SCRUM-HALF Matty Ashe (groin) and back-row forward Craig Robinson (dead leg) are the Roughyeds’ biggest injury worries ahead of Sunday’s fourth-round Carnegie Challenge Cup tie at Hunslet.

Both were missing for the 22-16 win at South Wales Scorpions, where the Roughyeds extended their 100-per-cent record in the league to five wins in a row.

And neither will play in the cup tie unless coach Tony Benson is convinced by the club’s medical staff that there will be no undue risk attached.

Ashe travelled to South Wales last Sunday, but there was never the slightest chance that he was going to play. The decision to leave him out for the first time this season, after nine appearances in a row in all competitions, was taken the day before when Danny Whitmore was drafted in as his scrum-half replacement.

“If we had played Matty in the Scorpions game he would certainly have missed the cup tie,” said Benson. “But, worse than that, reaction could have set him back and put him out for weeks.”

Prop Wayne Kerr was also sidelined last Sunday, but he is expected to be back in contention for Hunslet.

Mick Fogerty (neck), Marcus St Hilaire (knee and hand), Ben Heaton (back), Joe Chandler (back), Paul Reilly (back), Martin Roden (ankle), Paul O’Connor (neck) and Lucas Onyango (knee) will hopefully be fit by weekend if their injuries respond to treatment.

The BBC will film highlights of the game for the Super League Show, just as they did in the last round when Roughyeds ran up an all-time club record score in the 80-6 win against amateurs Blackwood Bulldogs from South Wales in the pervious round.

Roughyeds are planning to run a supporters’ coach to Hunslet at a cost of £7.50 per person, leaving Mecca Bingo at 12.45pm and the Black Horse on Ripponden Road at 1pm.

Fans must book in advance as soon as possible by ringing the club on (0161) 628 3677 or Joyce Pilkington on (0161) 665 1832.

The reserves open up their league campaign at Featherstone on Friday (8pm kick-off) when winger John Gillam is expected to test out the shoulder he damaged in a Northern Rail Cup tie against Rochdale in early February.