Gill body blow for Roughyeds

OUT FOR THE SEASON . . . Kieran Gill suffered a serious knee injury during Castleford's defeat of St Helens

OLDHAM RL have suffered another blow with the news that Kieran Gill won't play again this season.

The young centre, who was due to return to the Roughyeds next week on loan from Castleford Tigers, suffered a serious knee injury on his Super League debut against St Helens on Sunday.

Gill (21) has scored five tries in nine appearances for Roughyeds this season, including his sensational last-gasp winner against Bradford Bulls in April.

The Betfred Super League leaders gave him his big chance on the right wing in a side that beat Saints 16-12 without the services of key men like Luke Gale, Adam Milner, Matt Cook, Michael Shenton, Zak Hardaker and Grant Millington.

He celebrated by scoring Castleford's first try in the corner after 34 minutes, but his Super League dream turned into a nightmare early in the second half when he went off with a badly-damaged knee.

He will have an operation in about three weeks' time to repair ruptured anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments.

Roughyeds chairman Chris Hamilton said: "I've spoken to Kieran and, as you would expect, he's down in the dumps after being so upbeat to be given his debut at that level.

"He was due to come back to us next week, but instead he has had to accept that his season is over. He will be having surgery when the swelling goes down.

"SUPPORT"
"He says that, as soon as he is able, he will be coming over to get behind the boys and give them his moral support."

Tuoyo Egodo, who scored three tries in nine games while on loan for Oldham this year, was in the Tigers' 19-man squad for the same match, but he didn't squeeze into the final 17.

Seven players in the feisty Oldham-Rochdale Summer Bash derby - four Roughyeds, three Hornets - were referred to the sport's match review panel for alleged offences during the game at Blackpool.

The panel decided not to charge Oldham's George Tyson and Kenny Hughes for dangerous throws; that sin-binning Hornets duo Jo Taira and Danny Yates for high tackles was sufficient punishment; that Hornets winger Rob Massam should be cautioned for his alleged contact with a match official.

The two they charged, Oldham's Richard Lepori and Jack Spencer, will be dealt with in Leeds tonight.

Spencer will take advantage of an early guilty plea for a grade 'A' offence of contact with an official.

Lepori (grade 'A' punching) will be represented by Hamilton in the hope that he will escape a ban and be free to continue his current sizzling form against Championship leaders Hull KR at Bower Fold on Sunday (3pm).

It will be Oldham's first league game at home since they beat Swinton 22-18 on Good Friday, April 14.

They've eight games left before the start of the Shield - six at Bower Fold - so, in theory, the home factor should work in their favour.