OLDHAM’S coaching and medical teams have decided not to risk Jack Spencer in Sunday’s big game against Doncaster at the Vestacare Stadium.
The hard-running front-row man was injured in the win at London Skolars and was forced to miss the next game against Newcastle Thunder, which Roughyeds won 28-20 in a high-quality thriller.
There were hopes he might be back this weekend, but those hopes have now been dashed.
Said head coach Scott Naylor:
“It’s a shame because until he was injured he was our best forward. But it’s too much of a gamble in a game of this magnitude.
“He has a nerve problem in the region of his back and hip. He might go the full game, but its just as likely he might only last ten minutes.
“It’s not like a muscle or a ligament injury. Nerve damage is more of an unknown and it would be silly to chance it when we’ve got other forwards who are itching to play.
“I’ve got a good, big squad to choose from and that’s good. Everyone else is okay.”
It’s the last home game of the regular Betfred League 1 season and it couldn’t have much more riding on it.
Oldham could go top if they beat Donny and leaders Whitehaven slip up at Keighley Cougars. Irrespective of the Keighley score, however, a win for Roughyeds would keep them on course for a second-place finish and with it the best possible chance of winning promotion via the play-offs.
Donny boss Richard Horne will be checking on Aussie utility man Jordan Hedges, who damaged a calf last week and also on big forward Frankie Mariano, who had a spell off the bench against Skolars in his first run-out since last October.
Fit-again PNG international Martin Boas is in a similar position.
