Roughyeds’ historic day

ALMOST THERE: Mark Greenwood and Paul Brassington prepare holes for the rugby posts at the Whitebank Stadium.

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OLDHAM enter an exciting new era when they take to their new Whitebank Stadium home on Sunday.

The match is confirmed as ON after the RFL gave temporary permission to play matches at the Limeside venue for the rest of the season.

The governing body are not able to give their permanent endorsement as yet due to the fact that Sky have not yet visited to determine whether they can broadcast live matches from the ground.

But as the visit of York City Knights approaches on Sunday (3pm kick-off), club chairman Chris Hamilton is delighted that the hard work put into bringing the Whitebank up to scratch has paid off.

"We are urging people to come out and support us for this historic game, which we will be playing on our own ground in the borough of Oldham," said Hamilton, referring to the nomadic journey the club has undertaken since the closure of Watersheddings in 1997.

"I never thought I would be saying that.

“Five of our next six matches are at home and they give us the opportunity to cement the great work the team and coaching staff have put in to get us seven league wins out of seven.

"I would like to thank all the volunteers, club staff and companies who have been prepared to get their hands dirty and roll up their sleeves in order to help us get the match on.

"This is the starting point and work will be ongoing at the ground.

"But just to get to this point is fantastic and we will use it as a launch pad to take the club forward."

In a season marked by a refusal to let heads go down, a 46-26 defeat of Doncaster was yet another example of a strong comeback from Tony Benson's side, who trailed 14-12 at half-time.

York's season so far has been marked by rank inconsistency.

James Ratcliffe's side have won four and lost four so far — with every victory so far immediately followed by a subsequent defeat.

In the past two weeks, the Knights have played out two tightly-fought home games.

After seeing off Hornets 36-34 at the Huntington Stadium, they lost 36-30 against Swinton on Sunday — after putting in a performance Ratcliffe was far from happy with.

The Knights held a 30-16 lead as the sides swapped ends but fell away alarmingly in the second half, failing to register a single point as the Lions snatched the win.

Ratcliffe branded his side's capitulation as "astounding" and questioned the desire of some of his players.

York, fancied to do well by bookmakers in pre-season, are currently fifth in the division, behind Hornets RL on points difference.

Benson’s team will be determined by the outcome of fitness checks on Neil Roden (foot), Chris Clarke (gashed lip), Craig Robinson (elbow) and Marcus St Hilaire (back).

He will select from players involved at Doncaster plus Scott Mansfield, Jamie I'Anson, Ian Hodson, Mark Brocklehurst, Kashley Watkins and St Hilaire.

Team (from): Ashe, Boults, Brocklehurst, Chandler, Clarke, Ellison, Fogerty, Gillam, Heaton, Hodson, I'Anson, Kerr, Mansfield, O'Connor, Onyango, Reilly, Robinson, M Roden, N Roden, St Hilaire, Sutton, Watkins, Whitmore.




THE club is urging fans to buy tickets in advance for Sunday's game from the offices on Lansdowne Road, Chadderton.



Standing tickets are £10 adults, £8 concessions and £3 for under-16s. Stewarded parking is £1 per car.

Season ticket holders can upgrade to a seat at a prearranged rate of £10. But they must do this at the office, which is open until 5pm today and from 9am until noon tomorrow.

The clubhouse will be open before and after the game and the players will mix with fans once the game is over.




Fixtures



Tonight (both 8pm kick-off) — Carnegie Challenge Cup, round five: Bradford v Leigh; Leeds v Blackpool.

Tomorrow — Carnegie Challenge Cup, round five: Huddersfield v Warrington (2.30pm); Widnes v Wigan (7.30pm).

Co-operative Championship One: Gateshead v South Wales (7pm); Swinton v Hornets RL (3pm).

Sunday — Carnegie Challenge Cup, round five: Barrow v Hunslet (3.30pm); Crusaders v Catalans (3.30pm); Halifax v Batley (3pm); Harlequins v St Helens (2pm).

Co-operative Championship: Whitehaven v Keighley (3pm).

Co-operative Championship One: London Skolars v Workington (2pm); OLDHAM v YORK (3pm).