First taste of home for Holroyd

TONY BENSON: “every game is important in our quest to go up.”

GRAHAM Holroyd is set to make his home debut for Oldham RL on Sunday.

The 36-year-old midfield maestro, a short-term replacement for injured skipper Neil Roden, played in the draw at London Skolars a fortnight ago but missed the Challenge Cup-tie at St Helens because of a slight ankle strain.

Fully recovered, he will experience Whitebank and its pronounced slope for the first time in the game against Clive Griffiths’s Wrexham-based North Wales Crusaders (3pm kick-off).

Also returning to a provisional squad of 24 — to be chopped to 18 tomorrow morning — will be hooker John Clough after suspension and prop Luke Stenchion after three months out with a broken thumb.

Full-back Miles Greenwood, who twisted an ankle at Langtree Park, back-row forward Paul Smith (hamstring) and winger Lucas Onyango (knee) will all have late fitness tests before coach Tony Benson reveals his hand.

He will have numerous options in choosing from the 17 who played against Saints in the cup game, plus Liam Gilchrist, Bruce Johnson, Clough, Smith, Stenchion, Onyango and the man who will be centre of attention, Holroyd.

Benson said: “We learned a lot from the cup defeat at Saints. Saints set serious standards and we took that on board.

“It’s all to play for now in Championship One. Every game is an important one in our quest to go up to the Championship.”





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