Raftery deal eases prop problems

COMMON GOAL . . . Paul Whalley (left), Oldham boss Tony Benson (centre) and second rower Craig Robinson are each aiming to push the Roughyeds forward.

PAUL Raftery has signed for the Roughyeds reserves squad until the end of the season.

The 32-year-old Manchester-based prop forward was released from his contract at Hornets RL late last week.

And after talking to Oldham, Raftery — who has spent most of his professional career with Barrow — agreed to join up with John Hough's squad, playing his first game in the 66-6 demolition of Keighley on Saturday.

"John (Hough) was struggling for props and Paul signed for us on Friday," explained Roughyeds chairman Chris Hamilton.

HONEST

"He is here until the end of the season and we will play it by ear. We were very honest with him and said that if he could guarantee himself first-team rugby elsewhere, that may be a better option.

"But he wanted to come here to try to impress and we are glad to give him that chance."

Raftery, a former Eccles and Salford Juniors player with BARLA Great Britain honours, joins fellow former Hornets RL man Dean Hatton in Hough's high-flying squad.

The Keighley win leaves the team third in the 2010 Reserves Championship table, level on points with second-placed Leigh having played a game more.

A victory at bottom-of-the-table Barrow on Saturday (1pm) would help maintain the team's head of steam as the end-of-season play-offs approach.

So far, the reserves have won nine of their 13 league fixtures, scoring a total of 461 points — more than any other side, with the exception of leaders Whitehaven.