Bradbury’s big chance

MATTHEW Fogarty won’t be the only young Oldhamer to make his Roughyeds debut in Saturday’s second pre-season run-out against Featherstone Rovers at the Bigfellas Stadium.

Another centre, Jack Bradbury, is also in line to put on his hometown club’s jersey for the first time, having missed the 34-28 Law Cup win against Rochdale Hornets because of a shoulder injury.

Although coach Tony Benson won’t reveal his squad until later, he has confirmed already that 18-year-old Fogarty will play and that 20-year-old Bradbury has recovered from injury and will be ready to line up in a revamped three-quarter line.

“He’s done his rehab and has received the all-clear,” said Benson. “He will be very much involved on Saturday, as will Matthew Fogarty.”

Bradbury had four years at St Helens, where he won a place in last season’s senior squad after working his way through the various youth development structures at Knowsley Road.

Both he and Fogarty live and have their roots in Oldham and both chose to sign for their home-town team instead of moving to Yorkshire-based Super League outfits. Huddersfield Giants were in the hunt for Fogarty, while Wakefield Trinity Wildcats were courting Bradbury.

The players are ambitious, and have their sights set on a return to the top-flight eventually, but in the shorter term they feel they have more to gain by aiming to make a good impression in Championship rugby.

Benson added: “We will be doing all we can to progress them. This is a time of opportunity for young players, who will always be given a chance at Oldham.”

Benson hopes to finalise his squad after tonight’s training session, but one or two players have been under the weather this week and that has delayed things.

Matty Ashe has missed most of the pre-season work because he was released to play rugby union, but he is fit and ready to play and is expected to be included in the 20 or 21 to travel.

He was the latest player to sign a contract that commits him to Roughyeds for the 2011 season.