Birthday boy’s double delight

FOR PEET’S SAKE: Danny Peet (right) is congratulated on his outstanding efforts by Scholarship squad coach Phil Costin.

FULL-BACK Danny Peet celebrated his 18th birthday by picking up two of the three major awards at the end-of-season presentation evening for Oldham RL Club's Extended Scholarship squad.

He won the coach's player-of-the-year award, sponsored by Doughty's Gym of Shaw, and then lifted the players' player-of-the-year trophy, sponsored by OHM Electrical Services, by a single vote.

"It's fantastic to get these prizes, but all the lads were in it together and I feel I am just receiving on their behalf," said Danny, who comes from Wigan and hopes to be rewarded by an invitation to step up to John Hough's Roughyeds' reserve team.

The award for most-improved player, sponsored by '7L7L' went to 17-year-old prop Jordan Morris, a Warrington boy.

Nearly 100 supporters, many of whom had travelled with their sons from all over Lancashire and Yorkshire, attended the event in the Whitebank social club.

Club chairman Chris Hamilton told them: "We might not be the biggest club in the game, but we are committed to giving youth a chance.

“We've now come to the end of the first year of our involvement in the Extended Scholarship scheme.

"Coach Phil Costin and I will be meeting soon to prepare the ground for taking the scheme forward into next year and all that will be happening in the next few weeks."

Mr Hamilton thanked the squad's season-long main sponsors, Tensile Super Lamp of Swinton, sponsors of the individual prizes, everyone associated with the team and the families of the players, without whose support, he said, the scheme would never work.

Costin, a lifelong Oldham fan, said it was a dream come true to be offered the job and the responsibility of looking after the club's youngest recruits.

"I've enjoyed every minute of it from day one," he added, "And I was blown away by the players' skill levels and their enthusiasm and terrific work ethic.

"The club has a genuine pathway now from under-18s level to reserves to first team and thanks to the support of the club and the terrific backing of the chairman we have got off to a great start."