Oldham prop set for landmark game

Last season Scott Law was named Keighley Cougars' Player of the Year

Signed from Keighley Cougars in the close season, the 34-year-old Law-man has played in each of the Roughyeds' three Betfred League 1 games and one Coral Challenge Cup tie so far this season and he will be expected to reach his personal milestone this weekend.

Cutting a formidable figure with his red hair and ginger beard, Scott was last season's player of the year at Keighley, for whom he made 210 appearances in a ten-year stay.

He has also played 29 games for Halifax and six for Rochdale Hornets.

Oldham have won nine and drawn one of their last ten games with Skolars, amassing 208 points against 70 in their last five meetings.

Scott Naylor has warned though that they are getting better and stronger every year.

In their 18-18 home draw with Keighley Cougars last time out they fielded a maximum five loan or dual-reg men in full-back Craig Mullen and winger Joe Brown from Wigan Warriors as well as three from London Broncos, loose-forward Dan Hindmarsh, scrum-half James Meadows and centre Jacob Ogden.

Said Naylor: "Skolars are the biggest team in our division. They're big, strong and athletic, always have been but more so now. Their forwards are big and mobile and they like to play an expansive game, probably because they're coached by a stand-off half.

"They'll take risks too which means we've got to control the rucks and defend well if we're to stop them putting points on the board.

"You've got to be at your best defensively every time they have the ball, but we're at home and they've got a journey of between four and five hours so those things should be advantageous.

"There's still a lot of improvement in us. We did okay against Whitehaven (won 36-12); showed a lot of character at North Wales Crusaders (won 16-14); and produced a lot of good, attacking rugby in scoring 14 tries against Haydock (won 80-10).

"The challenge now is to bring all those different aspects of our game together; improve each week; and then show the consistency to play at that level every week."

Winger Aaron Jones-Bishop and versatile Anthony Bowman, who shared half-back duties with Adam Brook last time out, are suspended for this game and also for the following game against Widnes Vikings in the fourth round of the Coral Challenge Cup at Bower Fold, Stalybridge on Sunday, March 31 (kick-off 3pm).

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.