Ward back on duty

Oldham’s young back-row man Michael Ward will be back in a Roughyeds jersey tonight after a month off to study for exams.

The 22-year-old trainee teacher hasn’t played since March 10: “He asked for time off to catch up with his studies and I didn’t have a problem in granting it,” said coach Scott Naylor.

“He has sorted things out now. He was back in training this week and it was good to see him.”

Ward returns to duty in the under-20s side against Rochdale at Whitebank tonight (8pm) with loose-forward Liam Thompson, who plays his first game after a shoulder operation.

Also on debut are Sam Wilson and Nial Bradley at centre, Sam Singleton at scrum-half and Danny Hurley among the replacements.