Capacity rises for rugby showdown

TEAM AND TROPHY: Triumphant Roughyeds lead the league

Whitebank ground capacity has been increased by around 30 per cent to 1,940 for Oldham’s winner-takes-all promotion showdown with Keighley Cougars on Sunday (3pm kick off).

There will be more stewards and three turnstiles — two for adults, the other for concessions — instead of the usual two and they will open at 1.30pm, half an hour earlier.

The game is not all-ticket and admission will cost £14 for adults, £12 concessions and £3 under-16s.

Fans are urged to arrive early.

Club chairman Chris Hamilton has described the arrival at Whitebank of the League Leaders’ trophy as a “major milestone” in the history of the club.

Speaking after the 76-12 win at Oxford in the final game of the regular season, he said: “It’s the first thing we’ve won in 18 years and the irony is we did it when the division is stronger than it's ever been.

“To win 19 games out of 22 in a year when five teams came down from the Championship says a lot about our coaching staff and players and their desire, skill and commitment. It’s even more remarkable because the three games we lost were all in a four-week period.

“We are all aware that the job isn’t finished. I’m immensely proud to be chairman and I hope we can kick on and complete the job which so many people, including the fans, deserve.”

Club captain Lewis Palfrey has assured fans his players are “totally focused” on Keighley and are ready for the big game.

He added: “Celebrating with the trophy was a strange experience because we don’t feel the job is done.

“If we don't go up we’ll feel we’ve failed again because that was our target at the start of the season.”