Roughyeds gearing up for tough Hunslet test

Oldham will have another stern test this Saturday when they face Hunslet at the Vestacare Stadium (3pm kick off).

The coming month is a crucial period for the club and could well determine whether the club goes up automatically or has to fight it out in the play-offs.

Roughyeds boss Stuart Littler is under no illusions Hunslet, who are currently fourth and just one point behind Oldham, will be a tough opposition.

“There’s a lot of experience in their team, they’ve spent a lot more than what they did last year and they’ve built a formidable side,” he said.

“This block of games we’ve got coming up are pivotal to how the league will pan out but it’s a challenge we are embracing.

“We need to make sure we are consistent in our actions week in, week out no matter where we play be it at home, Midlands, or in the car park – wherever we play we are going to bring it.”

The last time the two sides met was on the last game of the season last year, when Oldham won 30-18 to leapfrog the Yorkshire side to grab the last play-off place.

There have been plenty of changes since then with both sides having heavily strengthened their squads.

Hunslet head coach Alan Kilshaw has brought in championship experience such as former Bradford players Sam Hallas and Steve Crossley, as well as the accomplished Matty Beharrell.

To add to that, Johnny Campbell – who, last year, scored 23 tries in the Championship and played in the Million Pound Game for Batley – has arrived on loan and scored a hat-trick against Rochdale last weekend, for the club.

Hunslet have threats across the field as evidenced in their recent 54-10 victory over Cornwall when all ten tries were scored by a separate Parksider player.

Oldham will be mindful of last weekend’s sluggish start, something they can ill-afford to do on Saturday, as they look to extend their unbeaten run to five games.

Admission prices for the 3pm kick off are £16 for adults, £10 for concessions, £5 for students and FREE for under-16s.

Tickets can be purchased at www.roughyeds.co.uk/tickets

Oldham squad in full: Ah Van, Baker, Bardsley, Blagbrough, Brierley, Carr, Hartley, Hirst, Kibula, McNally, Meadows, Moran, K.Morgan, Nelmes, Newton, Paga, Ridyard, Slater, Thornton, Whittel, Wilkinson

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