Search for new blood goes on

OLDHAM RL Club have suffered a setback in their ongoing quest to bolster their injury-depleted squad.

Props David Tootill and Lewis Reed, who made their first appearances in Sundayis 26-16 home defeat by Whitehaven, are each here on a month's loan from Hunslet Hawks and Keghley Cougars respectively.

Another player was ready to sign in time to play in Saturday's rearranged home game against South Wales Scorpions (1pm kick-off).

"Everything was sorted out, but it all fell down at the last minute," said Roughyeds chairman Chris Hamilton.

"His club had a change of mind after suffering injuries at the weekend.

"It was very frustrating, but we have gaps to plug in the squad and the search goes on."

Second-row man Paul Noone, out for five weeks since he damaged an ankle at London Crusaders, is confident that he will be fit to return to the side this weekend.

"At a pinch I might have played against Whitehaven," Noone said. "But if there was the slightest chance of a recurrence neither I nor the club wanted to take that risk for the sake of one game.

"I'll feel a lot happier about coming back this week and I'm pretty certain that will happen."

David Ellison has a good chance of making it, and there are hopes that winger John Gillam might also be available for selection for the first time since he broke a big toe in a bizarre accident at home a couple of months ago.

That would still leave Shaun Robinson, Chris Clarke, Paul Smith, Neil Roden and Luke Stenchion sidelined and Valu Bentley (calf), Lucas Onyango (ham string) and Alex Thompson (knee) battling against time to overcome injuries picked up in the Whitehaven game.

There's also the worry of Jamie Dallimore's appearance before the RFL disciplinary committee in Leeds this evening with the threat of suspension hanging over him.

He will have the support of his club chairman at the hearing which will allege that he committed the grade "Ci offence of "dangerous contact" in the defeat at Doncaster.