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Good start

9/ 4/2008

ROUGHYEDS’ reserve team boss John Hough has heaped praise on his youngsters ahead of their first home game.

The club’s new reserve team, who will be based at Sedgley Park this season, make their bow tonight when they host Rochdale Hornets (kick-off 7.30pm).

An encouraging pre-season saw the reserves – principally made up of local teenagers – record one win and one defeat from two friendlies before starting their league season with a 48-6 defeat against a strong Leigh Centurions side.

While happy with their progress thus far, Hough admits there is still a lot of work to do.

He said: "I’m obviously pleased with how things have gone so far. They’re all young lads who have done really well because they’re still playing on the back of a season with their amateur clubs and having to double up as a result.

"We’ve been having two sessions a week on top of what they’ve already been doing. We’ve put a lot of work in on the core skills, breaking things down like how to play the ball correctly, choosing the correct pass at the right time and so on, but they’re taking everything on board.

"I’m really looking forward to Thursday night. It’s always good to play our ‘arch-enemies’ and it’ll be a really good test for our lads because I think Rochdale have got a few first-teamers.

"Sedgley Park’s got a good, open pitch, so I think it’ll be a good opportunity for them."

A SUPPORTERS’ bus has been organised for the first team’s trip to Keighley Cougars on Sunday, leaving the social club at 1pm and the Black Horse at 1.15pm. Bookings cost £12 per person and can be made by contacting Joyce Pilkington on 0161 665 1832 or the club on 0161 628 3677. The club’s away game with Gateshead, scheduled for Saturday, May 24, has been moved to Wednesday, June 4 (kick-off 7.30pm). It has been changed because that weekend coincides with Oldham’s Northern Rail Cup quarter-final.