Benson lauds new boy

OLDHAM RL boss Tony Benson has praised Roughyeds new boy Luke Stenchion as a “pound-for-pound battler” who plays well above his weight.

The 25-year-old former Batley and Dewsbury prop is lined up to make his debut against London Skolars at the Whitebank Stadium on Sunday (3pm kick-off).

“He isn’t the biggest prop in rugby league,” said Benson. “But pound-for-pound he’s as strong as anybody and he’ll always give you 100 per cent.

“I’m thrilled to have got him because he’s just the sort of forward we need. That’s why we’ve been tracking him for months, right back to last autumn when we were in pre-season.

“He’s very experienced and the fact that he has played all his rugby up to now in a division higher than ours tells its own story. He defends well, he’s good with the ball in hand and he is a very consistent performer. He will be a great addition to our squad.”

Benson won’t finalise his team until the end of the week, but there is every chance that several players who have been missing through injury in recent weeks will be back in the frame.

They include club skipper and stand-off Neil Roden, centre and joint vice-captain Marcus St Hilaire, prop Luke Sutton and young utility back Matthew Fogarty.

Roughyeds plan to run a supporters’ bus to the Carnegie Challenge Cup fourth-round tie against Super League club Hull FC at the KC Stadium on Saturday, May 7 (1pm kick off).

It will leave Mecca Bingo car park at 10.15am and cost per person is £15. Bookings can be made on (0161) 628 3677, but payment must be made by 5pm on Thursday, April 28.




UNDER-16s accompanied by an adult can watch the Skolars game free of charge providing they obtain a voucher from the Roughyeds office in Lansdowne Road, Chadderton (0161 628 3677) before 5pm on Friday or prior to kick-off from the ticket kiosk situated next to the turnstiles.



Adults and concessions intending to capitalise on a ‘buy one, get one half-price’ ticket offer must do so before 5pm Friday at the club office as that offer will not be available at the turnstiles or at the ticket kiosk.