Hewitt stays, Mason returns

OLDHAM has reached agreement with St Helens to extend half-back David Hewitt’s loan.

But the club has said goodbye to prop Nathan Mason, who has been recalled by Huddersfield Giants.

The 21-year-old Oldhamer, who has played in all but two of the Roughyeds’ 18 cup and league games on loan from the Super League club, is in the Giants team to play St Helens at Langtree Park tonight.

“He’s done a great job for us and we wish him the best of luck as he advances up the ladder with the Giants,” said coach Scott Naylor. “He deserves his big chance at the highest level, but we’d have him back anytime."

Hewitt (19) came initially for a month but he will now stay until the end of the season: “David gives us another option at half-back. I liked what we saw of him against Gloucester and York. He did well,” said Naylor. “I’m looking forward to seeing him playing more games for us at senior level.”

Except for Tom Ashton and Steven Nield, Naylor will have a full squad to pick from for the Rochdale derby at Whitebank on Sunday. Ashton is a couple of weeks away from a return to the sqaud, but Nield has torn a cruciate ligament and is likely to be out until next season.