FOR adults and concessions who buy tickets online before midnight Friday, Roughyeds have slashed standing admission prices for Sunday’s winner-takes-all play-off qualification decider against Hunslet at the Vestacare Stadium.
Roughydeds have to win to finish sixth in the table, a place which is also the fifth and final play-off spot. Hunslet, who have occupied that place for weeks, need to draw or win on Sunday to go through.
Stu Littler’s men were eight points behind them a few weeks ago, but they’ve clawed back the deficit to two points and now stand within 80 minutes of figuring in the play-offs thanks to a superior for-and-against record.
In the hope of drawing a big crowd to create an intimidating atmosphere, Roughyeds have slashed £3 off standing tickets, which are on offer online for adults and concessions until midnight Friday.
Said club chairman Chris Hamilton:
“We are hoping to attract people who don’t normally come, so they can have a look at us but, more importantly, so they can cheer on the lads into the play-offs.
" Please, please, please get behind the boys and be as vocal as you can. It really does make a difference, especially when things are not going our way.
“I would love to hear that famous chant of “Oldham, Oldham” ringing out around the ground.”
Coach Stu Littler added:
“I want to thank the fans for sticking with us in a difficult campaign. We hope to generate good numbers for this one and to give everyone something to cheer about.”
Sean Slater’s two-match ban starts this weekend so he won’t be available and it’s too early yet, said Littler, to speculate about the availability of Emmerson Whittel (ribs) and on-loan hooker Johnny Openshaw (knee), both of whom were injured at Swinton on Sunday.
He went on:
“We’ll be doing our very best to get them fit, but we are currently in the hands of the medical people and we;ll know more later in the week.
“We’ll be working hard this week, as will Alan Kilshaw’s Hunslet. At this of year we’ve all got injury problems and the like. We are all in the same boat.
“The big thing is home advantage. We’ve got to make that count with the help of our fans. For weeks we’ve been looking at Hunslet’s results and weighing up how we stand.
“We know now what we’ve got to do. It’s in our own hands and we are at home. It wouldn’t be rugby league if it wasn’t tough, but we can’t ask for more than home advantage in a game like this.”
