Spotland ready to rock for Law clash

DERBY rivals Rochdale Hornets expect a bumper crowd at Spotland when Oldham defend the Law Cup on January 17.

Both teams begin their warm-up fixtures a week earlier — Oldham at Keighley, Rochdale against Salford — but both sets of supporters will regard the traditional Law Cup clash as the pre-season highlight.

It’s 25 seasons since a second division derby, on Boxing Day 1989, attracted a crowd of 8,150 — still a Spotland record for a Hornets league game. Hornets won 24-12 on their way to second-place in the league. Hull KR were champions and Oldham went up in third place on the same number of points but a for-and-against difference of 554 against Rochdale’s 555.

Hornets chairman Mark Wynn: “At Rochdale we love everything about the Law Cup and we’re delighted it’s back after a three-year break. We’re billing it as the 25th-season anniversary of that great Boxing Day clash, but it’s also special because Oldham are coming as League One champions.”

Looking ahead to his first derby, new Hornets coach Alan Kilshaw said: “Oldham were the benchmark side in League One last season and we expect them to go well at Championship level.”