Run-out chance for Oldham trio

RUSTY senior members of Oldham RL Club’s first team squad could finally get the chance to shake the dust off their boots on Friday in a reserves game at Featherstone Rovers (8pm).

Coach Tony Benson was left ruing the wintry conditions which led to last weekend’s friendly at the same location being postponed due to a frozen playing surface.

Sidelined trio Neil Roden (chest infection), Paul Noone (work commitments) and Lucas Onyango — back from a long-term knee injury — were all due to play that day but are likely to make their long-awaited return to action for the reserves.

New signing Paul Ballard, the former Celtic Crusaders winger, is also pencilled in to make his Roughyeds bow.

With several players carrying knocks, chairman Chris Hamilton said they will leave it as late as possible before settling on a line-up.

He added: “The injury situation in the senior squad will also have an influence on which players will turn out on Friday and the decision will not be made until Thursday at the earliest.”

It will be reserve team coach Paul Ashton’s first game in charge since succeeding John Hough at the end of last season.

Ashton’s players have been training for several weeks ahead of what will now, once again, be a six-team Reserve Team Championship after York City Knights rejoined the competition.

This follows hot on the heels of Rochdale Hornets withdrawing last week.

League action gets under way in March, the first of 16 fixtures and a top-three play-off.

Roughyeds are joined by York, Featherstone, Keighley, Halifax and Sheffield.




OLDHAM season ticket holders are reminded that 2012 tickets are available for collection from the club offices on Lansdowne Road up until 5pm on Friday.



People wishing to collect them from the ground on Sunday can do so, but the club are asking for as many supporters as possible to call in advance. Fans are reminded to bring their receipt, which will be needed to exchange for their ticket.