Oldham duo miss Toulouse away-day

George Tyson.

OLDHAM flew out to Toulouse today without George Tyson and Ben Davies.

Nineteen players were in the party, including full-back or wing Scott Turner, who suffered a knee injury at Rochdale a month ago and missed the next three games against Haydock in the Challenge Cup, followed by Batley Bulldogs and Bradford Bulls in the Championship.

Tyson tweaked a hamstring while training for the Bradford game and will be kept back in the hope that he is fit for the visit of derby rivals Swinton Lions to Bower Fold on Good Friday (3pm kick-off).

The same applies to prop Davies, who picked up a calf injury in the exhilarating 26-22 triumph against the full-time Bulls in Stalybridge last Sunday.

Said coach Scott Naylor: "When you're travelling abroad for what you know will be a tough encounter you can't afford to take players who are at risk.

"George and Ben will stay behind and rest up, but Scott (Turner) will be with us after getting over his knee problem."

There was no training last night (Thurs), but arrangements have been put in place for the squad to get out on a training pitch for the 'captain's knock' shortly after they arrive in Toulouse.

Oldhamer Nathan Mason, no stranger to playing on dual-reg with his home-town team from Huddersfield Giants, had a big game at prop against Bradford.

Naylor has confirmed that the dual-reg facility is again available to him this weekend, but he is offering no clues about who might be involved.

The Roughyeds coach said: "There's been a lot of talk about Toulouse's full-time status, but like every other club that goes out there we've just to get on with it.

"There's been some disruption to routine this week, caused by the Saturday scheduling and the travel to the south of France, but the RFL take a lot of the stress out of it and help us to get through.

"Once the whistle goes, the players don't care where they are. They're playing a game of rugby on a strip of grass, like they do every week of the season, and they're out to win - those are the only thoughts going through their minds."