Jamie’s birthday blues

RULES and regulations on RFL suspensions have killed Oldham half-back Jamie Dallimore's dream of playing in Sunday's big derby clash at Whitebank.

He believed last Thursday's reserve-team game at York would have counted towards his three-match ban — so he would be free to play against Rochdale Hornets.

But club officials discovered he would be ineligible to play for another 12 days.

Explained club chairman Chris Hamilton: "Reserve-team games only count towards a ban if the player was under the age of 23 on September 1 last year. Jamie missed it by a couple of weeks.

"It was a close call, but the Rochdale derby will be the final game of his suspension."

Dallimore was banned for three games for making what was considered by the match review panel to be a dangerous tackle in the defeat at Doncaster on May 13.

He will be free to return to the side at Whitehaven on July 1.

Roughyeds' new boy Daniel Smith is keeping fingers crossed that he will be given the chance to test himself against Rochdale.

Coach Tony Benson hopes to have his 17 settled at training tomorrow night so that Saturday's session can take the form of a full-scale run-out.




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