O’Connor misses top award

OLDHAM full-back Paul O’Connor was overlooked for the Co-operative Championship One player-of-the-year award in Manchester last night.

The 26-year-old, who cleaned up at the Roughyeds’ end-of-season presentation evening, was among three nominees for the coveted title, but lost out to Paul March, player-coach of Hunslet Hawks.

O’Connor and Neil Roden, who will be key men in Oldham’s play-off final showdown with York City Knights in Warrington on Sunday, were named in the Championship One all-star team of the year and were present at the awards night held at the Co-operative’s New Century Hall.

Oldham RL Referees’ Society enjoyed a double with Robert Hicks winning referee of the year and touchjudge Tony Martin lifting the Neil Whittaker Trophy as match officials’ achiever of the year.

Hicks, who was in charge of the Northern Rail Cup final earlier in the season, will handle Sunday’s Championship play-off final between Featherstone and Halifax.