Referee’s injury forces game to be abandoned

OLDHAM RU first XV, from left, back: Dave Roscoe, Mike Crouch, Chris Idehin, Josh Brown, Jordan McEwan, Nick Hackman, Gary Phelan, Adam Waterhouse, Paul Wardle, John Gillam, Mark Brocklehurst, John Souter, Paul Walsh (president). Front: Brian Massey, Luke Rosloe, Gareth Barber, Guy Lovegreen, Jack Hawkins, Charlie Roscoe.

RUGBY: OLDHAM RU firsts face another trip to Garstang after their North Lancashire Division One fixture was abandoned.

The match was stopped in the 10th minute when referee Paul Houston, from Bolton, sustained a hamstring injury.

He received treatment from Oldham’s physio on the day Rachael Johnson — she looks after the Roughyeds — but was unable to carry on.

An approach was made to the referee on the adjacent pitch to step in, but he did not meet the required standard to officiate at North Lancs level.

With the touch judges also unqualified — they were representatives from both clubs — the game was abandoned.