New-boy Tom has it tough

Photo: Picture: CHRIS SUNDERLAND

FIVE ON ONE: Oldham’s Tom Whitehead tries to spot a gap.

OLDHAM RL new boy Tom Whitehead could hardly have had a tougher start to his Whitebank career.

Only 24 hours after signing for Roughyeds he was thrust into the under-20s side against a crack Salford City Reds outfit that has won 13 of its 14 games.

Unlike second-placed Featherstone, smashed 70-0 by the Reds, Phil Costin’s boys at least gave them a game before going down 52-18.

Their task, on a hot night at Whitebank, was made more difficult because it was their first game in five weeks.

Trailing 36-6 10 minutes into the second half, Roughyeds enjoyed their best spell to peg Salford back to 36-18 before the classy Super League visitors pulled away again.

Said coach Costin: “We were rusty and it showed. But we blew the cobwebs away for our rearranged home game against Hemel Stags next Saturday.

“Tom Whitehead was solid at the back; hooker Andy Ball did well; Niall Bradley will benefit from a full game; and the Joy brothers came through well in their first appearances at Whitebank.

“We will certainly benefit from this when we play Hemel.”