Oldham bent on extending Liam's stay

LIAM BENT . . . the teenage back-row forward has made nine appearances for the Roughyeds

OLDHAM will be talking to Salford Red Devils this week in a bid to extend Liam Bent's loan spell.

The 19-year-old back-row forward has played in nine games for Roughyeds, six of them off the bench, but his current loan agreement runs out on Thursday.

A tackling machine, he will need to be re-signed if he is to be made available to Scott Naylor for Sunday's Kingstone Press Championship game with Halifax at Bower Fold (3pm kick-off).

It will be the first of three games in eight days for Naylor's men, who also play their outstanding game against Dewsbury Rams at Bower Fold tomorrow week, June 21 (kick-off 8pm).

Without a win in five outings, but buoyed by a highly-charged and totally committed team performance in a 32-24 defeat by league leaders Hull KR on Sunday, Roughyeds will be aiming to return to winning ways against Halifax and Dewsbury.

MEDICAL TEAM

Several players with knocks, pulls or strains will be reviewed by the club's medical team tonight, including Danny Langtree (elbow), George Tyson (groin), Luke Adamson (hip), Kenny Hughes (finger), Sammy Gee (wrist) and Danny Grimshaw (groin).

Vice-captain Gee, who didn't play in the last two games against Swinton Lions and Hull KR, also has an RFL disciplinary matter hanging over him following his red card for punching near the end of the Summer Bash derby against Rochdale Hornets.

His case won't be heard tonight, but it might be on the sport's disciplinary agenda before the end of the week.

Oldham chairman Chris Hamilton reports that the RFL are still gathering information about events leading up to the incident for which Gee was ordered from the field.

Richard Lepori, sin-binned earlier in the game for punching, served a one-match ban against Hull KR and will be available for selection on Sunday.

Halifax, who won 54-0 at Sheffield Eagles last Sunday without Ben Kaye and Adam Tangata, hope both will have recovered from groin complaints in time to return to the side at Bower Fold.