Ex-Oldham men set for Whitebank return

OXFORD boss Tony Benson is expected to stoke up the tension at Whitebank on Sunday by playing his five former Oldham players.

Benson's pumped-up Blues rattled Roughyeds in the corresponding fixture last year, winning 18-16 on the New Zealander's first visit to Whitebank since being sacked in 2012.

Oldham put the record straight with an impressive 22-4 triumph at Oxford two months later. But that home defeat by a team packed with Oldham old boys still rankles. Scott Naylor’s men will be keen to see it doesn’t happen again.

Oxford’s squad has been reshaped in its second season at this level, having parted company with many northern-based players including five ex-Oldham favourites - John Clough, Lucas Onyango, Martin Roden, Shaun Robinson and Danny Halliwell. Five more former Oldhamers remain in the side: half-back Tommy Connick and forwards Chris Clarke, Alex Thompson, Valu Bentley and David Ellison.

They have helped the new-look Blues to make an impressive start with three wins from five games.

They come to Whitebank looking for their third win in a row.