Diveney takes plaudits at reserve-team awards night

MICK Diveney (left) receives his awards from John Hough.

GOALKICKING half-back Mick Diveney won two player-of-the-year trophies at the Roughyeds' Reserves' end-of-season presentations, held in a packed Whitebank Stadium function room.

The 23-year-old former Waterhead amateur, who spent several years in the Wigan Warriors development camp, was voted No 1 by the fans and also by his coach John Hough, the accolade from the boss earning him the Brian Gartland Memorial Trophy.

"All I wanted to do when I joined Roughyeds," said Mick, "was to play for my home town team and get my name on the back of the jersey. I've worked hard all season.

"It was great to be given the opportunity to play for Oldham and I hope it will be the same for a few more years to come."

More than 100 fans, a full house, were shown big-screen highlights of the reserve team's season which had ended earlier that day with defeat at Widnes Vikings in the first round of the top-six play-offs. Oldham finished fifth, their highest placing since the reserves were re-formed under Hough's tutelage for the 2008 season.

Explaining why he picked Diveney for the top award, Hough said he was not only a fantastic goalkicker but a player who had worked hard all year and who had progressed "in leaps and bounds."

"Mick has pushed himself to the limits," he added, "and has shown with his ability, his discipline and his total commitment that he has left his amateur days behind and has the makings of a professional."

Other awards were as follows:

Players' player, Dean Hatton; Most improved, Phil Joy; top try scorer, Ross Coates; top tackler, Scott Mansfield.