Oldham set for action — at last

OLDHAM RL coach Tony Benson is relishing the chance to pitch his side against ambitious Featherstone Rovers at Whitebank tonight (8pm kick-off) in the Northern Rail Cup group stages.

The fixture was postponed on Sunday due to a frozen playing surface – the third call-off Roughyeds have suffered in a matter of weeks – but higher temperatures over the last 48 hours seem to have rectified that problem.

Now Benson can give Neil Roden, Paul Noone and Lucas Onyango their first action of the campaign, while flying winger Paul Ballard looks set to make his debut for the club.

"The pitch is looking good now and it is dry, so we should be in for ideal rugby conditions," said Benson.

"This is going to be a good test for us because Featherstone have designs on winning the competition. They have spent a lot of money and are geared up for a successful season.

"We cannot wait to get out there, despite the fact preparation has been hit by the conditions. Until last night, we were stuck in the boxing gym at Hopwood Hall.

"Facilities are fantastic, but at the end of the day we want to have a ball in our hand so the improvement in the weather is a welcome relief.

"For the players, it is more about the mental side of things, getting themselves up for a game and the sacrifices they have to make in the run-up to a fixture, only to find out a few hours beforehand that it is off.

"With three postponements and the reserves game also being called off recently, I have certainly not known a pre-season like it since I came to this club.

"But hopefully there is light at the end of the tunnel now."

Oldham made their long-awaited return to regular training last night, when they were assessing injury concerns over Shaun Robinson (quad), Mark McCully (knee) and Matthew Fogarty (hand).