Roughyeds pups reach for the sky

YOUNG Roughyeds players will get an opportunity to impress senior coaches Scott Naylor and Lee Spencer in a game against the Royal Air Force at Whitebank on June 7.

The RAF side asked for a game as part of preparations for a trip to Canada next month, and the annual inter-services championships in September.

Oldham chairman Chris Hamilton said: “The under-20s had no game on June 7, so we were delighted to invite the RAF. The game will provide our boys with a different type of challenge and it will be interesting to see how they handle it.”

The RAF will play the Canadian national side in Toronto on June 21, hoping to repeat their win of 2012 in the same stadium, watched by a crowd of nearly 10,000.

“Oldham will give us a hard, competitive test which will be superb preparation for the games we have coming up,” said Flight Sergeant Ozzy Hicks, the RAF team manager.

Season-ticket holders will be able to see the game free; other fans will pay normal second-team prices.

Neil Roden’s under-20s go to Whitehaven on Saturday to play Cumbrian regional academy before two home games - Sheffield Eagles on May 31, then the RAF.

On Sunday, Oldham go to Cheltenham to face Gloucester All Golds, who won the Kingstone Press team performance of the week award for their victory at London Skolars.