Oldham seeking fresh blood

AS the clock ticks down to Friday's signing deadline, Oldham RL Club are pushing on with plans to bring in new blood and to extend existing loan deals.

The initial agreement with London Broncos for a month's use of Kameron Pearce-Paul and Sadiq Adebiyi runs out today, but Roughyeds are talking with London about keeping the two 20-year-olds for a while longer.

They're also in touch with Salford Red Devils about Liam Bent and Connor Williams, the teenage winger who scored his first try for Roughyeds against Sheffield.

Second-row man Bent, who's made a dozen appearances since April, is currently on a week-to-week plan, while the deal for Williams expires on July 27.

Wakefield full-back Luke Hooley (19) has signed on loan to the end of the season, but he won't be joining Scott Naylor's men until the week before the first Shield game on August 6.

"STRAIN"

Said Naylor: "He's got a slight knee strain, nothing serious, so he'll come to us after the break and in readiness for the Shield.

"It was a big help to get Steve Nield back from Gloucester and to bring in Kameron (Pearce-Paul) and Connor (Williams) on loan, but we needed more cover for the back three after losing Scott Turner and Richard Lepori.

"Wakefield think a lot about him and the experience he's had at Dewsbury will stand him in good stead, so he fits the bill nicely."

Roughyeds must also consider how the deadline affects dual-reg regulations and how it will limit their use of Huddersfield Giants players.

Sam Wood and Mikey Wood, who have each played eight games for Oldham already, are unaffected.

Of the other five Giants to wear the Roughyeds jersey this year, only Tyler Dickinson and Nathan Mason are possibles because anyone with fewer than three appearances is ineligible.

Restrictions on Dickinson and Mason, however, demand they play for Giants or Oldham, not both.

Injury victims George Tyson, Matty Wilkinson, Scott Leatherbarrow, Danny Langtree, Liam Thompson and Jack Spencer have "a chance" of making Sunday's derby clash with Rochdale at Bower Fold (3pm).

Under-16s with an adult go free in a bid to whip up support for Naylor's men in an eagerly-awaited duel with local rivals.

"It's our last game of the regular season with a lot riding on it," said Oldham chairman Chris Hamilton. "We need to bang the drum and get the people of Oldham behind the boys.

"Schools finish this week so people can take advantage of free admission for under-16s."

Meanwhile, Hamilton has praised the courage of club vice-captain Sam Gee in relation to the recent racial abuse case heard by the RFL disciplinary panels.

Lewis Galbraith, a Rochdale player, was originally found guilty and banned for eight games, but that was overturned on appeal when he was found not guilty and the ban was quashed.

Hamilton said: "As a club we have a duty to stand up for our players where we feel there is wrong-doing and Sam was both brave and determined, as this was not a run-of-the-mill incident.

"We have always accepted whatever decisions have been made by the game's disciplinary bodies and this case will be no different.

"It is important, however, to note the comments of His Honour Judge Chris Batty, who stated in the most recent hearing that Sam gave credible evidence and there was no suggestion of anybody from the club lying.

"The case has affected Sam and, as it has gone on for a considerable period of time, has had a big impact on him.

"We are grateful to the RFL compliance manager, Dean Hardman, for his support to Sam during this difficult period. Everybody is now looking forward to focusing on matters on the pitch in the remaining games."