Briscoe’s big injury boost

CRAIG BRISCOE . . . the forward could return to action at the end of June.

CRAIG Briscoe was overjoyed when he went to hospital about major knee surgery and was told he didn’t need it.

“I was speechless,” said the Oldham forward, whose rugby world was shattered five weeks ago when scans indicated he had ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament of his right knee. At one time such an injury would have been career-ending; even now it involves a knee reconstruction and at least a year out of action.

But a top consultant has since assured 23-year-old Briscoe the damage wasn’t as serious as first feared and that he should make a full recovery with exhaustive physiotherapy over the next two or three months.

Head coach Scott Naylor said his player could be back on the field before the end of June, with three months left of the Roughyeds’ fight to consolidate its place in the Kingstone Press Championship.

“Craig’s made up, as you would expect. He thought he was out of the game until next year and now he can see light at the end of the tunnel. It’s fantastic news for the lad and for the club.”

A close-season signing from Barrow, Briscoe was injured in a warm-up game against his former team mates at Craven Park. He was soon walking normally and away from his full-time job for only two days.

“My knee seemed to be improving day by day.”

But In the next few weeks he came to terms with the worst possible prognosis. And now his sporting world has been turned upside down for a second time - this time in a good way.

“The cruciate is one of a few ligaments that are strained, but not damaged beyond that,” he said.

“I was walking on air when they said I could be playing again in three months. I was smiling for the rest of the day. It still seems a long way to go, but not when compared with what I thought it was going to be.”

While waiting for the op he has watched Roughyeds play and despite two disappointing defeats over Easter he is unwavering in his belief the team will soon turn things round.

“It isn’t a major issue — just a blip and a temporary loss of form that can be fixed quite easily,” said the man who has the biggest smile in the Roughyeds’ camp right now.