Oldham suffer Foxen blow

Lucas Onyango: fully recovered

MARTIN Roden expected a difficult journey on becoming Oldham RL’s caretaker boss with three games left — and it has proved to be the case.

Eight-try Doncaster Beat Oldham 46-22 at Whitebank and on Sunday come third-placed Workington Town with sights firmly fixed on the £50,000 prize for finishing top of Co-operative Championship One.

They have only to win at Whitebank, at bottom-club Gateshead, and at home to Rochdale to achieve their goal.

Oldham will be without on-loan winger Rob Foxen, who has been recalled by Swinton Lions and almost a full Roughyeds’ three-quarter line is in danger of missing the last home game of the season because of injury.

They will be assessed again tomorrow, as will Alex Thompson (shoulder) and Paul Smith, whose neck injury caused him to pull out of last week’s side shortly before kick-off.

Roden, who will not be a contender for the permanent coach job, said: “I had only 13 fit bodies at training last night, but hopefully the situation will be better by tomorrow morning when we train next.

Winger Lucas Onyango, who suffered a chest injury against Doncaster, is fully recovered and ready to play.

Roughyeds won at Derwent Park 24-14 on the opening day of the league campaign, but then won only four of the next 15.



MATTY Foreman is on stand-by to step up into Oldham’s reserves’ squad for their play-off final at Featherstone tomorrow (5.30pm kick off).

Coach Paul Ashton will have to delay selection until late due to the possibility of at least one player being called for first-team duty.

To keep the cup they won last year, Roughyeds will have to inflict Featherstone’s first and only defeat of the year.

They will be encouraged by their 30-30 draw at Whitebank — the only point dropped by Rovers in the regular season.








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