From Russia with... a big mission

RICHARD Lepori: back, and in one piece

BACK home and none the worse for his Moscow adventure, Richard Lepori is injury-free and looking forward to Oldham’s promotion final against Keighley Cougars on Sunday.

He linked up again with team mates last night after playing for Italy against Russia last weekend.

Lepori has his sights set on regaining his Roughyeds place in Sunday’s winner-takes-all battle at Whitebank for the right to ascend to the Championship. He won’t be on his own.

Senior players Danny Langtree, Lewis Palfrey, Sammy Gee, Adam Neal and George Tyson will also be sweating on a recall which, if they were all to get into the 17, would require coach Scott Naylor to dismantle the side that won 76-12 at Oxford to seal top spot in the league.

Hamilton added: “We’ve only got Steven Nield on the injured list, and he’s long term. Everyone else trained last night, so Scott will have to make some tough calls. There’s going to be some disappointed lads - but what a great position to be in.”

Naylor’s big choices will be at centre — two from Jon Ford, Tom Ashton, George Tyson — and at half-back where he’ll recall his captain, Lewis Palfrey, and then partner him with Steve Roper or David Hewitt.

He’s got plenty of options too in the forwards . . . and with play-anywhere Sammy Gee also staking a claim will he allow himself the luxury of playing three hookers, as he has done for most of the season.



SEAT tickets for the big match, priced at £16 adults and £14 concessions, will be on open sale at Whitebank between 4pm and 7pm today.