Brace for Casey in big Roughyeds win

TOO STRONG: Bruce Johnson takes on the Sheffield defence

CALLUM Casey bagged a brace of tries on his Oldham RL debut as the club’s second string swept aside lowly Sheffield Eagles 62-20 at Whitebank.

The 21-year-old stand-off or loose forward, on loan from Leeds Rhinos, was one of seven players to cross the line for the Roughyeds in their biggest win in the Under-23s Reserve Championship this season.

The result lifted Oldham, who led 32-4 at the break, up to third place, hot on the heels of Leigh in second.

Casey was later replaced after suffering a bicep injury, although coach John Hough said the move was a precautionary measure. He will be assessed when the players report for training tomorrow.

Dave Cookson helped himself to a hat-trick of tries, there were two each for Jack Bradbury, Jamie Dallimore and Alistair Williams, while Zac Cotton and Tommy Connick also went over.

Dallimore, again impressing after showing up superbly well on his league bow at senior level last weekend, made up the remainder of the points with his boot.

Hough said: “I was happy with the composure displayed by the players, but I was disappointed in the fact we allowed them to put 20 points on the board.

“That win puts us up to third, so we’re heading in the right direction.

“Our next target is Leigh and we’ve got games in hand over them.”

John Gillam was absent from the match-day squad as work commitments prevented him from attending training in the build-up to the game. He was hoping to continue his comeback from a foot injury, which has kept him out of the first-team picture for a number of weeks.

The reserves are back in action on Thursday at York (kick-off 8pm).