Injuries rule out Gillam

JOHN Gillam, the Oldham RL winger, suffered a fractured eye socket and a broken nose near the end of the 14-4 Northern Rail Cup defeat by Whitehaven.

It was evident when he was led from the field that he had suffered damage to his nose, but the full extent of his injury did not emerge until later.

"We are not sure yet how long John will be out," said chairman Chris Hamilton, "but it's looking like three to four weeks."

He will miss Sunday's Carnegie Challenge Cup third-round tie against the amateurs of Hunslet Warriors at the Whitebank Stadium (3pm) as well as the first league game against Gateshead Thunder, also at home, the following week.

The unlucky Gillam picked up a shoulder injury this time last year and missed nine games, including the first five in last season's Championship One campaign.

Full-back Ben Heaton, who was concussed in the Whitehaven game, and winger Lucas Onyango, who has a date with the RFL disciplinary committee this evening, are also in doubt for Sunday.

Hunslet Warriors, unbeaten leaders of National Conference Two, have won 19 of their 21 games in all competitions this season.

They are coached by Castleford Tigers and former Huddersfield and Wakefield prop Paul Jackson, who will pick from a squad of 20 which includes former Oldham, Rochdale and Hunslet Hawks player Darren Robinson.

"We have a loyal following and we will bring plenty of vocal support," said the Warriors' publicity officer Pam Crosby.