Bentley’s race against time

Valu Bentley

UTILITY forward Valu Bentley faces a touch-and-go fight for fitness in time for Oldham's important last game of the regular league season at Gateshead Thunder on Sunday (3pm kick-off).

The Kiwi has a calf injury which forced him to miss the win against Workington Town — and his chances of playing this weekend are in the balance.

If Roughyeds, currently seventh, are to finish in the top-six and qualify for the play-offs they need to pick up three points and hope title-chasing Doncaster can win at London Skolars.

Caretaker boss Martin Roden will have problems finding two props to provide the back-up for Jason Boults and Liam Gilchrist in the front-row.

Luke Stenchion is out with a broken hand, Jamie Acton faces suspension, and Danny Langtree and David Ellison have other commitments.

Chairman Chris Hamilton, meanwhile, has still to decide whether to enter early guilty pleas for Acton and Stenchion, who face RFL charges for punching in the flare-up at the end of the Workington game.

An early guilty plea would probably provide Acton with a one-game suspension.








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