On-loan Foster facing check

Lewis Foster

ON-LOAN hooker Lewis Foster will be checked out at training tonight after receiving a head injury in Oldham RL Club's defeat at London Broncos.

Only a few minutes into the game he staggered back into Oldham's defensive line after making a tackle and was quickly removed from the action and examined by the duty doctor.

He failed the doctor's head test and could take no further part in the game ­- an early setback for Scott Naylor's men, who travelled to the capital without Adam Clay (ankle), Danny Grimshaw (ankle), Steve Roper (calf), Jack Spencer (shoulder) and the latest injury victim, Gary Middlehurst, who has broken a finger.

There are fears that Middlehurst might be out for a few weeks at the height of the squad's battle to stay in the Championship.

TASTE

On the plus side, Richard Lepori played the full game in his first taste of the action since damaging a shoulder against Warrington Wolves several weeks ago. He confirmed later that he came through without mishap.

So too did Craig Briscoe, who was making only his second appearance of the season after damaging a knee at Barrow in a warm-up game last February.

More positive news for Naylor ahead of Sunday's extremely important showdown with Whitehaven at Bower Fold concerns Gareth Owen, who was sin-binned for a high tackle just before the end at Dewsbury.

The latest sitting of the RFL's Match Review Panel has concluded that there will be no formal charge against Owen, for whom the yellow card was sufficient punishment.

Prop Tom Spencer, who has played several games while on loan from Leigh Centurions, has been transferred back to LSV on completion of his initial month's agreement.