TWO or three Cornwall players can pose threats when Oldham aim for a hefty win against Rugby League new boys Cornwall at the Vestacare Stadium today (Sunday), kicking off at 1pm to give our visitors a better chance of getting home at a reasonable hour.
A one-point win would be gratefully accepted against a Cornwall side that we respect totally and which led 12-6 at half-time in our last encounter with them down in Penryn. They have some good players, like full-back Liam Whitton, utility back Harry Aaronson, strong-running centre Tom Ashton, star Aussie stand-off Cameron Brown, hooker Luke Collins and young scrum-half Adam Rusling.
They’ve already beaten London Skolars this season and they are a side which is more than capable of pulling off an upset if higher-placed opponents drop their guard or fail to hit their best form.
If Roughyeds are to give themselves a realistic chance of winning promotion this year, they can’t afford to be on the wrong side of such an upset, hence the importance of a game that Oldham fans will be busting to see after two blank Sundays, the first one to accommodate the Challenge Cup and the second one because of the mid-season international between England and France at Warrington.
Neither Oldham nor Cornwall has played for three weeks and that in itself can lead to some uncertainty – a fact of which rival coaches Stuart Littler and Mike Abbott will be only too well aware.
With little to separate four of the five clubs currently occupying the Betfred League One play-off spots, points differential could prove crucial in the final shake-up, so every point scored, and every point conceded, will count towards final league positions, another pointer to the importance of Oldham v Cornwall.
Significantly, the pacy Aaronson, who grew up in rugby terms at Saddleworth Rangers, scored two tries from left-centre when Cornwall came to the Vestacare in their first season, scoring four tries overall in a 48-22 defeat. He used to play for us, of course, so a return to the Vestacare will bring out the best in this very quick 25-year-old, who was Cornwall’s top try scorer last year. He has also played for Swinton Lions and Keighley Cougars, to say nothing of England Universities and the youth teams at both Huddersfield Giants and Wigan Warriors. Add experience and determination to his speed and you’ve got a danger man.
Tom Ashton, often his centre and another ex-Oldham man, is also a strong runner, while fullback Liam Whitton (Halifax-born, ex-Siddal and Halifax) was voted Cornwall’s player of the year in 2022.
Stand-off Cameron Brown, an Aussie, was named in the current League One team of the month, while hooker Luke Collins has played in Australia for the youth sides at North Sydney Bears and Balmain Tigers.
Scrum-half Adam Rusling, aged 20, has played for Castleford Tigers at scholarship and academy levels and has had a brief courtship with Salford and has also been at Hull KR.
Cornwall’s 21-man squad also includes new signing Leo Tennison, a young prop, from Hull KR and Welsh prop Ewan Bodham, whose loan period from Rochdale Hornets has been extended by two weeks.
Cornwall have confirmed that winger Aaron Jones-Bishop, another former Oldham player, has left the club.
Their 21-man squad for the Oldham game:
Aaronson, Ashton, Bodham, Boase, Bodman, Bolger, Boots, Brown, Carter, Collins, Cullen, Dimech, Howe, Lloyd, Nield, Ray, Rusling, Singleton. Tennison, Trerise, Whitton.
Oldham are without injured skipper, goalkicker and tactical leader Martyn Ridyard, but there is much to look forward to in this game, not least Patrick Ah Van’s quest for one try to hit a career 150 and Jordan Paga’s bid to maintain his challenge for top spot in the league’s try-scoring charts.
We also have available three young players from Wigan Warriors, including two whose close relatives played for us in the past – Kieran Tyer, son of Sean, and Harvey Wilson, grandson of the late, lamented and legendary prop Ken ‘Tug’ Wilson.
Please note also that admission for under-16s is FREE and that Rugby Oldham are to sponsor the youth group Roary’s Pride, for whom potential new members can sign up at the game. Membership costs £10, but included in that you get a new Roary’s Pride scarf and entry into a draw to win Nando’s vouchers.
