Trio back in Oldham frame

HOOKER Danny Whitmore, prop Liam Gilchrist and half-back Matty Ashe are in line to step back into the Roughyeds’ limelight at Halifax on Sunday.

All three failed to make the cut when coach Tony Benson named the 17 who went on to beat Hunslet Hawks 28-22 in last Sunday’s Northern Rail Cup group game at the Whitebank Stadium.

Ashe was on duty as 18th man (reserve), but there was no place for either Whitmore or Gilchrist as Benson picked the side which he felt was best suited to heavy conditions.

All that changes at The Shay against a Halifax side which is regarded by many of the sport’s pundits as the best team outside Super League.

By beating Featherstone in last season’s Championship Grand Final at Warrington, Matt Calland’s men put plenty of meat on the bones of that assessment as well as doing their Super League bid a big favour.

“This will be a huge challenge for us,” said coach Benson.

“It will be a totally different game to last week’s in that it will be fast and open on a good pitch.

“We are looking forward to the test and we are going into it with a lot of confidence.”

Young front-rower Tom Wood-Hulme, who scored two tries for the reserves last night (see story above), sits this one out after playing in all four senior games so far.

Ashe remains in contention; Gilchrist replaces Wood-Hulme; and Whitmore comes in as an addition as Benson goes with a squad of 19 and thus keeps his options open.