Roughyeds banking on pay-day

OLDHAM Rugby League Club aim to pull off a Tetley’s Challenge Cup shock at Hunslet Hawks on Sunday in the hope of landing a decent pay-day in the next round.

A split third-round gate at the South Leeds Stadium (3pm kick-off) will offer little in the way of financial comfort to either club, both of which will be banking on a chance to pull a more lucrative tie in round four.

Hunslet lie 10th in the 14-club Kingstone Press Championship — one division higher than the Roughyeds — with three wins from nine league games.

Oldham chairman Chris Hamilton: “A cup run can be a big help financially.

“It’s a big test for us away from home against a team from a higher division. We’ll be going to Hunslet to give it our best shot.”

Roughyeds will face professional opposition in the third round for the first time since the ‘new’ club was established in 1997.

Over the last 15 years they have beaten 14 amateur clubs plus the Army at this stage of the competition.

In that period they have gone out eight times in round four, six times in round five and once in the quarter finals.



OLDHAM new-boy Liam Thompson, who has had a shoulder operation, may get his long-awaited debut in the under-20s side which plays Rochdale at Whitebank on Friday (8pm).

A final decision will be made later in the week.