Cookson itching to grab chance

DAVID COOKSON . . . impressed in reserves matches.

OLDHAM RL new boy David Cookson may make his senior Roughyeds debut at Workington on Sunday.

The 22-year-old former Oldham St Anne's and Great Britain under-23s amateur international, who signed pro forms last week after a string of impressive performances in the reserves, trained with the first team last night and was then told to keep Sunday free.

A native of Rochdale, Cookson plays equally well at centre or second-row and has built a reputation in John Hough's high-flying reserve squad as a tough operator who knows how to score tries.

He said: "I can't wait for the chance to show what I can do at a higher level."

If opportunity knocks on Sunday, it will be a tough baptism for Cookson against a Workington side which will be be striving to beat the Roughyeds for the third time this year after a 31-12 win at Derwent Park in March and a 24-22 triumph in a thriller at Whitebank in July.

Tony Benson's men are riding high on confidence, however, after a run of six wins from eight games.

In-form full-back Ben Heaton damaged an ankle in the 48-34 win over South Wales Scorpions last time out and he is under treatment in the hope that he might be ready in time.

The Junction Inn, Ripponden Road (0161 633 2759) hope to run coaches to Workington on Sunday (kick off 3pm) and to Widnes RU Club on the following Saturday, Sep-tember 10, where Widnes Vikings reserves will clash with Roughyeds reserves in a play-off battle of the top two reserve league teams (2.30pm).

Oldham Roughyeds Supporters' Association (ORSA) will meet at Whitebank tomorrow night at 8pm.


TOULOUSE will not play in the Co-operative Championship in 2012, the RFL have confirmed.

The French club will return to domestic competition,

though they will continue to take part in the Carnegie Challenge Cup and Northern Rail Cup.

The Championship leagues should both run with 10 teams next season.

Crusaders are expected to be approved to play in the Championship which would mean two clubs relegated from that division this season, to be replaced by Championship One winners Swinton and the play-off final winners.

In the event of Crusaders not being accepted to the Championship by the RFL — a decision will be made before the Championship One play-offs begin — then only the bottom Championship club will be demoted, with two going up from Championship One.