SCOTT Naylor has confirmed that injury-hit Oldham will not be able to call on dual-reg players from Salford Red Devils for Sunday’s important top-five clash with Workington Town at the Vestacare Stadium (3pm kick-off).
It will be the fourth game in a row that Roughyeds have gone into battle without assistance from their dual-reg partner club.
The last time was on June 3 when Naylor’s men beat Doncaster 32-12 at home with Salford prop Gavin Bennion in the starting line-up.
It was Bennion’s second appearance in the Oldham jersey. Others from Salford to do the same were Ryan Lannon (twice), Levy Nzoungou (twice) and Daniel Murray (once).
With no dual-reg personnel and four of their six casualties already ruled out, Roughyeds will be up against it as they bid to bounce back strongly after an eight-game winning run came to an end with a 16-12 defeat at Hunslet.
Ruled out are prop Adam Neal (concussion), hooker Kenny Hughes (ankle), second-row man Danny Langtree (hamstring) and prop Ben Davies (perforated ear drum).
Danny Bridge (knee) is rated as a ‘major doubt’ but Phil Joy, who hurt a rib at Hunslet, should be ready in time.
Said Naylor: “The lads who play will have to put in a massive performance.
“It is, after all, an opportunity to prove to our supporters and to ourselves that we want promotion and that it matters to us as a team and as a club.”
Naylor has a plentiful supply of backs at his disposal, but it’s a different story in the forwards where he will have a bare-bones ten for the six starting pack men plus another four on the bench.
One of them, hooker Matty Wilkinson, has scored a try in each of the last three games against Coventry Bears, London Skolars and Hunslet.
During the first half of the season Oldham had the distinction of being the only League 1 side to win at Derwent Park. The only other team to do it was London Broncos in the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup.
Town picked up two or three knocks in last week’s 60-12 home win against Hemel Stags.
The most serious was a groin strain picked up by centre Perry Singleton, who remains a major doubt for Sunday.
ORSA Raffle
FANS are reminded ORSA will be selling tickets (£1 a strip) for their raffle with a difference. First prize is a chance to spend game day with the players, in the dressing room, in the dug-out and post-match having a meal with the players.
