Injury worries for nines event

OLDHAM coach Tony Benson will judge players carrying injuries at the Whitebank Stadium tonight before naming his 15-man squad for the Northern Rail Nines at Blackpool on Saturday.

The injury pile-up, due to some degree by playing on rock-hard pitches, has already claimed utility forward Craig Robinson, who has been ruled out with a back injury. He has played in only one of the Roughyeds’ last five games, having also had a pelvic problem.

Prop Luke Sutton, out for six weeks with a knee injury, is still a couple of weeks away, while Ben Heaton has been given the weekend off for personal and family reasons.

On top of those three, the walking wounded reads Gregg McNally (hand), Neil Roden (foot and shin), Marcus St Hilaire (groin), Lucas Onyango (ankle), Paul O’Connor (neck) and Valu Bentley (back).

“It is important we field our strongest possible team,” said Benson. “But at the same time we have to be aware of our injuries.

“Also, it is a fantastic opportunity for fringe players and for those who perform consistently well in the reserves to be given a chance to see how they go at this level.”

Roughyeds are early birds in the Nines tournament, kicking off the day-long proceedings with a nine-minutes-each-way clash with Barrow, starting at 10am on pitch one.

Benson’s boys then play Sheffield Eagles on pitch 2 at noon and Featherstone Rovers, also on pitch 2, at 3pm.

Tickets for the nines are on special offer at the Roughyeds office, which is open until 5pm today and from 9am to 5pm tomorrow.