Cup-tie reduced tickets offer

ROUGHYEDS fans can make substantial savings by buying tickets for the cup-tie at Featherstone in advance from Oldham.

The fifth-round Ladbrokes Challenge Cup tie will be played at The Big Fellas Stadium on Sunday, April 23 with a 3pm kick-off.

Early-bird purchases, saving £6 for adults and £4 concessions, will be available until Wednesday, April 19.

As soon as Oldham receive their tickets from Rovers, they will announce details of when and where they will be available for purchase.

Tickets offer fans the option of standing or sitting for the same price.

Early purchases (up to April 19): adults £12, concessions £8, juniors £5.

After April 19: adults £18, concessions £12, juniors £5.

HOLDERS

Junior season-ticket holders get free entry to the tie, but they need to get a ticket from Roughyeds on production of their season's pass.

Oldham beat amateurs Haydock 40-12 at Bower Fold in the fourth round while Featherstone won 21-13 at Bradford Bulls, watched by 2,458 fans - the second highest attendance of the round.

Figures released by the BBC show that 23,000 watched the Oldham-Haydock tie as streamed on the BBC website with commentary by Dave Woods.

When Oldham went to The Big Fellas Stadium on the second weekend of the Championship season, they lost a thriller 8-6 in front of an attendance of 1,783. Both clubs are looking for a gate in excess of 2,000 for the cup tie.

Rovers currently lie second in the table behind unbeaten Hull KR, having won five of their six games to date.

Oldham chairman Chris Hamilton will be a studio guest om BBC Radio Manchester's Rugby League Extra between 6pm and 7pm tonight when a 'Championship Special' will also hear from Rochdale chairman Mark Wynn and Swinton Lions general manager Rob Parker.

Roughyeds' long-term injury victim Craig Briscoe, meanwhile, says he is well on track to make his comeback before the end of the season.

Following major surgery to rebuild his right knee, the former Leigh and Barrow back-row forward is having regular rehab and says he is happy with the progress he is making.

"I won't be rushing it, but I would love to squeeze in a couple of games before the end of the year," said Briscoe. "That's my target and I feel I'm getting there, although I've a lot of work to do first."