Winger hopes to avoid ban

OLDHAM winger Lucas Onyango will make a personal appearance before the RFL disciplinary committee tomorrow with the backing of his chairman Chris Hamilton.

Swinton stand-off Martin Ainscough required treatment after attempting to tackle Onyango in the Roughyeds’ 29-20 defeat by the Lions at The Willows nine days ago.

No action was taken at the time by the match officials, but the RFL’s match review panel has since informed Oldham that the player has a case to answer.

Anything more than a one-match ban would put Onyango out of Oldham’s opening game in Co-operative Championship One against Gateshead Thunder at Whitebank on Sunday week, March 13 (3pm kick off).

Attention this Sunday turns to Oldham’s third round Carnegie Challenge Cup tie against amateurs Hunslet Warriors at the Whitebank Stadium (3pm).

To play in the tie Onyango will require a not-guilty verdict or at least escape suspension.

Also doubtful at this stage are full-back Ben Heaton and winger John Gillam, both of whom were injured in yesterday’s 14-4 Northern Rail Cup defeat by Whitehaven.

Heaton was led off with concussion in the second half. Gillam had to quit near the end after suffering a broken nose while going close to scoring. Oldham were awarded a penalty.

Coach Tony Benson made several changes to his side yesterday, most notably leaving out centre Jack Bradbury, scrum-half Mick Diveney and hooker Danny Whitmore.

Heaton, Matty Ashe and Valu Bentley replaced them in a reshuffled squad which saw back-row forward Andy Isherwood lose his place in the starting line-up for the first time this season.