Ford’s focus on Oldham

TEENAGE centre Jon Ford scored FOUR tries for Oldham in South Wales — then declared his allegiance to the Roughyeds for at least another month

“I'm very happy to be at Oldham on a more regular basis now,” said 19-year-old Ford.

“I enjoyed it here when I was on dual registration. I would have signed loan forms earlier, but I had one or two things to sort out with Salford first.

“It was good to score four tries in one game. I can’t recall having done it previously.”

Assistant coach Lee Spencer said it confirmed Ford has what it takes to go far in the game.

He added: “Jon was in the right place at the right time, but that in itself is a skill. He read Anthony Bowman perfectly and as a consequence Bowman put him through some nice holes.”

New-boy Bowman, also on a month’s loan, slotted effortlessly into his new role, but things didn’t work out so well for the other newcomer, Matt Brotherton, who had to quit with an ankle injury early in the second half.

That was the Roughyeds’ only injury of note, although some players reported bumps and bruises at the end of another tough, physical encounter.

They will be checked out before the visit to Whitebank on Sunday (3pm) of Hemel Stags, who made the entire division sit up with their home win against previously unbeaten league leaders North Wales Crusaders.