Costin tips scholars to make the grade

PHIL Costin, coach of Oldham RL Club’s scholarship squad, has tipped several of his under-18s to graduate to the Roughyeds first team.

Costin’s cubs — all 22 of them — are training twice a week in preparation for games against Workington and Leigh at home and Hunslet and Keighley away.

Only three of the 22 are Oldhamers with the majority coming from Widnes, Wigan, Huddersfield and Bradford.

The latest addition is Grant Hudson, from Salford City Reds.

Costin said: “I have some exceptionally talented lads and I’ll be surprised and disappointed if some of them don’t make it to the first team via John Hough’s reserve side.

“Their commitment is phenomenal. They are hungry for it — and a real pleasure to coach.

“We can’t wait for the games to start. They have been a long time coming and the boys are itching to show what they can do in a game situation.”

Provisional dates are: Workington (home), Saturday, June 25; Hunslet (away), Saturday, July 16; Keighley (away), Saturday, July 30; Leigh (home), Saturday, August 27.

These are subject to change, particularly the last one which is provisionally scheduled for Carnegie Challenge Cup final day.

Roughyeds new-boy Bruce Johnson is in the reserve team at Keighley tonight (7.45pm kick-off), but the other new signing, Mark McCully, will not be involved.

The squad comprises the players who lost narrowly at Leigh last time out plus Johnson, Lewis Brookes and Alex Thompson, who returns after injury.