Naylor facing derby dilemma

SCOTT Naylor admits he will have difficult decisions when he picks his team for Sunday's derby clash with Rochdale at Whitebank.

Though the full picture won't be known until the players report for training tonight, early indications are that all 17 players were unscathed in the York City Knights game.

George Tyson didn't play against York because of a niggling knee problem. It won't be known until later in the week whether he will require more time out or be back in the selection mix against third-placed Hornets. The Rochdale side is two points behind leaders Oldham after the same number of games, but Oldham has a superior points record.

A fit Tyson would make a strong claim for one of the centre spots, well though dual-reg pair Oliver Roberts and Jake Connor played against York. Inexperience might count against young forward Rick Joy and teenage full-back Tom Dempsey in an intense and physically demanding battle.

But that wouldn't hinder the claims of half-back Steve Roper, the squad's senior citizen at the age of 28 and a former Rochdale player who has lost count of the number of derby battles he has played..

Roper has given way to loan teenager David Hewitt in a partnership with club captain Lewis Palfrey in the last two games - the 19 year old's first play at senior level.

Danny Jones (22), a former Saints youngster who had two and a half years at Barrow, made his Hornets debut off the bench in Sunday’s win at Newcastle. Also in the Hornets squad were Oldhamers Danny Yates and Danny Bridge; former Roughyeds winger Dale Bloomfield, and young centre Jack Ashworth.



THE funeral of lifelong Oldham fan Harry Brereton, a former chairman of the Supporters' Club in Watersheddings days, will be at Oldham Crematorium on Thursday (3pm) and then back at Oldham RLFC, Whitebank Stadium.