Oldham Roughyeds v. Leigh Centurions preview

By Matt Lawton
May 24 2003

The Centurions make the relatively short journey to Oldham tomorrow to take on a Roughyeds side struggling at the wrong end of the National League One table, despite being tipped by many to be among the front-runners.

Oldham have a strong side on paper, with the likes of ex-Leigh trio Chris Morley, Simon Svabic and Paul Anderson in their squad, but due to many things, not least low confidence among the Roughyeds squad along with boardroom turmoil, the Roughyeds have lurched from crisis to crisis, despite their much heralded return to the town for this season following an enforced exile in nearby Ashton.

The hosts are set to field a side determined to make up for last weekend's mauling away against Doncaster which led to many irate fans calling for drastic action at both management and boardroom level, with Roughyeds chairman Chris Hamilton being one of the main targets of abuse.

Oldham have been boosted by the signing of centre Dan Potter from Super League outfit Widnes Vikings and he looks set to go straight into the side to face the Centurions at Boundary Park, which the Roughyeds share with footballing neighbours Oldham Athletic.

Centurions' record-breaking full back Neil Turley could make a shock return to Paul Terzis' side, although he will have to pass a late fitness test in order to make the seventeen following an injury he picked up in the early stages of the season. However, England international hooker Paul Rowley is rated at less than 50-50 to make the squad due to a shoulder injury, which will mean John Hamilton will continue to fill in as the Centurions number 9.

Otherwise, it seems as though it will be a similar side to that which blitzed Featherstone Rovers 50-12 a fortnight ago, then made heavy work of the same opposition last weekend, eventually coming out as nervy 26-6 victors at Hilton Park.