Home comfort for Hamilton

FANS turned out in force for the first game at the new ground

Roughyeds chief has grounds for optimism

OLDHAM Roughyeds chairman Chris Hamilton has put out an upbeat message to fans in the aftermath of the historic day at the Whitebank Stadium where the rugby league team played on its own ground for the first time in 13 years.

“I thought it went pretty well,” he said. “This was the first time we have organised the full match-day process.

“We will debrief and there will be areas we can improve on.

“We will certainly have the opportunity because we have a lot of matches at Whitebank coming up, starting with the visit of London Skolars this Sunday.

“I thank everyone who turned up for the York game; volunteers, without whose help the game would not have taken place; and club staff for extra work in unpaid hours.

“A lot of people showed their appreciation of everything that has been done at the ground, and we are grateful to them for that.”

While Oldham lost 34-28 on the day, Hamilton feels that the result’s significance paled when placed in the context of the achievement of getting Whitebank up and running — not to mention the terrific start to the season which sees the team top of the table after eight matches.

“The defeat was disappointing,” he admitted. “We would have loved to claim another victory, but the occasion was all about much more than a game. It was a massive milestone in the club’s history.

“Nobody was more gutted than the players but this was the first of five out of six games at home and I hope everyone will be back next week.

“If, last November, somebody had told us we would win seven of our first eight league games, be top of Championship One, and be playing on our own ground in Oldham we would have referred them to hospital for treatment.

“So we must not be greed or too disappointed because we were beaten by York.

“The RFL were represented at the game by Emma Rosewarne, who was taking stock of what went on and making notes.

“No doubt there will be some things we need to look at, but that’s only to be expected.”

In other news, the RFL are to take no action against the players involved in the ‘swinging arm tackle’ in which Chris Clarke suffered a gruesome mouth injury at Doncaster.

Oldham had referred the incident to the match review panel.

But it was ruled that Clarke was falling into the tackle and that there was “insufficient evidence of point of contact.”

Furthermore, it could not be determined which player caused the injury to Clarke.