CLUB mascot Roary and other Roughyeds personnel, including Sam Doyle of the backroom staff and star half-back Lewis Sheridan, who is currently out injured, were out and about this weekend, doing a big PR job for the Roughyeds.
First, Roary was in Spindles Shopping Centre with his Rochdale Hornets counterpart, Hooper the Hornet, giving out Easter eggs with an Easter Bunny.
Roary then went to the local Nando’s outlet where he met two little girls called Abi, who each drew a picture of him.
Nando’s then supplied the Oldham Rugby party with vouchers for two meals and in the next few days there will be a chance for members of the public to win them.
Special thanks to senior management at Nando’s for their help and co-operation in this, especially to Samantha Murgatroyd, an assistant manager and the daughter of our club’s chief photographer and to Ahsan Khan, one of the chefs.
After a short break, Roary and Hooper then appeared together on the touchline at the Oldham-Hornets derby rugby league match at the Vestacare Stadium were Roughyeds scored ten tries in a 56-16 win to keep intact their 100 per cent league record after three games.
Next Sunday, April 16, Oldham go to high-flying Doncaster hoping to avenge their two-point defeat at the Keepmoat Stadium in the Challenge Cup.
Back to the community story and both Sam Doyle and Lewis Sheridan delivered Easter eggs to the staff on the children’s ward at the Royal Oldham Hospital. They weren’t allowed on the ward, but doctors and nurses will give the eggs to their young patients at the Roughyeds’ request.
After that, the club’s personnel visited the Mahdlo Youth Zone where Lewis and Sam gave children tips about how to play rugby league and then supervised a cross-bar kicking challenge.
Said David Murgatroyd:
“We’ve engaged with hundreds of young people in the last few days but, while the crowd figure on Friday was encouraging, we expected a few more than 824.
“If we can keep playing like we did against Hornets I don’t think it will be long before we hit the 1,000.”
