DANNY Langtree needs one more try to become the Roughyeds’ highest-scoring forward in any one season since the launch of the ‘new’ Oldham club in 1997.
He became the top-scoring second-row man when he recently went past Tommy Goulden’s 2008 total of 15 and he is now on level terms with hooker John
Hough’s 17, established way back in the year 2000.
Hough, now living in Australia, has held the record for 18 years, but Langtree needs only one try against Whitehaven in tomorrow’s big game at the Vestacare Stadium (3pm) to remove his crown.
Winger Nick Johnson’s 25 in 2004 remains the overall record and several more backs have surpassed the 17 scored by Hough and Langtree.
It doesn’t alter the fact that, with at least six more games to play, ‘Langers’ is poised to become a record-holder among his fellow forwards.
A try tomorrow will give him that record and earn him the biggest cheer we’ve heard at the Vestacare Stadium for a long time.
Indications from the 19-man squad suggest it will be a very similar side to last week’s. There’s only one change in the 19, Jack Holmes coming in for Kenny Hughes.
Squad: Bent, Briscoe, Crook, Davies, Eccleston, Hewitt, Holmes, Johnson, Joy, Kershaw, Langtree, McComb, Neal, Nelmes, Owen, Rasool, Reid, Spencer, Wilkinson.
Club captain Gareth Owen will be looking for his 100th appearance in the Roughyeds’ jersey.
The last eight clashes have produced four wins each, but Oldham have won the last three — by 20-18 and 26-18 at Bower Fold in 2016 and by 14-0 at Whitehaven on the opening day of this season.
Haven were beaten 46-0 at Bradford last week, but before that they enjoyed a run of six wins on the bounce to go fourth in Betfred League 1.
Their previous defeat was 27-20 at home to Bradford when they challenged the league leaders all the way after going 8-0 up.
Defeat at Odsal with an injury-hit squad that included two amateurs saw them plunge to seventh and pick up an injury to hard-working hooker Stuart Howarth, who was forced off with a hairline fracture of an arm.
Tomorrow’s clash is a vital one for both clubs in terms of finishing in the play-offs.
Roughyeds are urging as many fans as possible to get behind Scott’s boys and effectively become Oldham’s 18th man in what can be an intimidating atmosphere for visiting teams at the Vestacare Stadium.
