O’Connor closes in on landmark

PAUL O’Connor is poised to make his 100th cup-and-league outing for the Roughyeds at Gateshead on Sunday.

The 26-year-old full-back, who made his Oldham debut in 2006, has played in 82 of the club’s 86 games since the start of the 2008 season and has picked up more man-of-the-match awards than any other member of the current squad.

Roughyeds coach Tony Benson was quick to salute Connor’s impending landmark.

“He’s one of the most consistently sound performers, game after game, that I have ever come across,” said Benson.

Roughyeds will emerge from their mid-season mini-break — 21 days between games — knowing they can’t afford to slip up in any of their remaining seven matches in their pursuit of the Championship One title and, with it, automatic promotion and a £50,000 winner-takes-all prize.

They currently lie in second place, three points behind Hunslet Hawks but with a game in hand.

Preparations for Sunday’s visit to the North-East began in earnest last night when several players were hoping to be crossed off the injured list.

Forwards Craig Robinson (groin), Martin Roden (ankle), Wayne Kerr (shoulder), Jason Boults (knee) and Ben Heaton (thumb) were hoping to get the all-clear.

Half-backs Neil Roden (foot) and Matty Ashe (hip) were also looked at, although a final decision on Ashe may be left until later in the week.

Roughyeds chairman Chris Hamilton has welcomed news that the club has been granted a full liquor licence for the Whitebank Stadium from the local licensing authority.

It means that, for the first time, Roughyeds can now sell alcohol inside the ground and that draught beer will be available in the clubhouse whenever it is open.

Roughyeds will definitely have the new arrangements in place for the visit of Swinton Lions on July 11, but they are trying hard to do so in time for the reserves’ game against Dewsbury on Friday (kick-off 7.30pm).