WITH 15 days separating this evening’s Championship opener against Swinton Lions and our second league game at Batley Bulldogs, there are hopes that both Phil Joy and Luke Nelmes will be available for selection for the trip to Mount Pleasant.
The two biggest forwards at the club are currently on the casualty list, Joy with an injury picked up at Featherstone in our first game back after a year without a game and Nelmes with a knee strain sustained in the Challenge Cup win against Barrow Raiders.
“We are hoping they’ll be ready for Batley,”
said coach Matt Diskin, who was the Bulldogs’ boss before he came to Oldham.
After this evening our next three games are all on Saturdays, kicking off at times scheduled for Our League as part of the RFL’s plan to stream as many games as possible while fans are still locked out because of the pandemic.
We go to Batley on Saturday, April 17 (12.45pm); to London Broncos on Saturday, April 24 (2pm); and we’re at home to Halifax Panthers on Saturday, May 1 (12.45pm).
We hope as many fans as possible take advantage of the Our League promotions for obvious reasons — it helps us to recoup some of the money we are losing every time a home game is played behind closed doors.
At the same time, you can watch in the comfort of your own home for a bargain £4.95 if you buy before the day of the match and £10 if you leave it to game day.
That brings us to the fact that you can still watch this evening’s traditional Easter derby at Bower Fold for £10, still good value even if you’ve missed the Early Bird price.
It’s free, of course, for Oldham season-ticket holders.
Our League is not only becoming a massive RFL promotion, but a key and integral part of the governing body’s plan to fight Covid and to keep as many fans of the game as possible watching the action and supporting their clubs.
It’s an initiative for which the RFL deserves the support of fans and clubs and the way we can best do that is to encourage Roughyeds fans — season-ticket holders or not — to get on board and enjoy the digital coverage.
Describing the Betfred Championship as “this fabulous competition”, the RFL’s chief executive Ralph Rimmer said:
“Clubs have shown a real collegiate spirit in offering Early Bird, Day and Weekend passes at great value prices.
“With all seven matches this weekend scheduled to avoid clashing with Betfred Super League fixtures on Sky Sports there’s an opportunity for fans of all clubs to watch some fantastic action this Easter.”
If you’re not already booked in to watch us this evening (5.15pm kick-off) do it NOW and do it HERE.
