Young prop is sidelined

INJURY BLOW . . . Tom Wood-Hulme is facing a spell on the sidelines after undergoing surgery.

TOM Wood-Hulme, Oldham RL Club’s young prop, will be out for a few weeks after breaking a thumb in an accident at his home in St Helens.

This is the second setback to hit the unlucky former Widnes Vikings junior in the space of two weeks — and it cost him a place on the replacements’ bench in the Roughyeds side that was beaten at Keighley on Sunday.

The club has since revealed that 20-year-old Wood-Hulme had recovered from injuries sustained in a car crash in St Helens a fortnight ago — injuries that kept him out of the Swinton game — and had been named in the 17 to go to Keighley before news came through of his latest mishap.

He now faces a longer absence from the game after undergoing surgery to repair the damaged thumb. It is another blow for coach Tony Benson whose squad has been badly hit by injuries to key men in recent weeks.

Attempts have been made to bolster the squad, possibly with loan signings, but so far without success.

John Gillam, Luke Sutton, Matthew Fogarty, Marcus St Hilaire, Neil Roden and Wood-Hulme all missed the Keighley game, but Benson is hopeful that Sutton, Fogarty, St Hilaire and Roden will be cleared for the next game against London Skolars at the Whitebank Stadium on Sunday week.

The reserves are also in action over Easter, taking on York City Knights at Whitebank on Saturday, April 23 (2.30pm) after first meeting Halifax in a rearranged home fixture on Thursday (kick-off 7.30pm).

Goalkicking half-back Jamie Dallimore was sent off for punching in the reserves' 50-16 defeat at Dewsbury Rams on Friday, but his case will not go before the

disciplinary committee until next week so he will be free to play this week.

o THE Roughyeds’ Supporters’ Association (ORSA) will stage a quiz night at the Whitebank Stadium on Friday (8pm). Entry for a team of four is £10. All fans are invited, not just ORSA members.