Lepori back for do-or-die clash

RICHARD Lepori, who missed Oldham’s 23-22 play-off defeat by Rochdale Hornets, will be back in the side for Sunday’s final eliminator against London Skolars at Whitebank (3pm).

The young full-back was on international duty with Italy with coach Scott Naylor’s approval - even though he missed the club’s most important game of the season.

Naylor: “I would never hold back a young player from getting the chance to play for his country.

“Richard went with our best wishes. He deserves the recognition he is getting.”

Tom Whitehead replaced Lepori at full-back, as he did when Roughyeds beat North Wales Crusaders 28-10 at Whiteback on the same July weekend that Lepori made his Italian debut.

Local boy Whitehead had a cracking game against the Welshmen, but broke bones in his hand and was forced to quit at half-time.

Statistics showed that Roughyeds made more tackles in the first half than in any other game this year.

Naylor said: “Rochdale didn’t break us, bust us, go through us or get round us on the outside.

“We simply gifted them loads of ball and field position — and Crook did the rest with his kicking game.”

London Skolars qualified to come to Whitebank with a 44-28 home win against Hemel Stags.

The winners of the Oldham-London game will play Rochdale in the final at Leigh on September 20, with promotion for the winner