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Six signing on

25/10/2006

OLDHAM coach Steve Deakin has continued his recruitment drive for the 2007 season with SIX new players signing in the last week.

Former Swinton winger Stuart Oldham signed last week, as did Queenslander Geno Costin.

Joining them will be Ben Woods, Drew Houston, Mark Ogden and Richard Mervill.

While Costin and Woods may be Australian, the duo hold European passports and will not count on the club's overseas quota of two foreign players.

Those spots will be taken by Houston and Ogden, while Mervill is an English prop, formerly of Halifax and Keighley, who has spent the last year playing for Dapto.

"We've been burning the midnight oil," said Deakin, "but it's all starting to come together now and I am getting really excited about our prospects for 2007.

"With the Aussie boys and our new French forward, Said Tamghart, we will have a bit of a cosmopolitan flavour, and I don't think our recruitment drive will end here.

"I have to say that the club directors Chris (Hamilton) and Sean (Whitehead) have shown great faith and I want to place on record my appreciation of all they have done in getting together the sort of squad that is taking shape."

Woods (23) is a prop who comes highly recommended by Deakin's close friend, former London Broncos and Queensland forward Russ Bawden.

He has represented his state in Australian Rules Football, as well as winning several North Australian titles in surfing and lifesaving.

Houston is another 23-year-old who can play in either the back row or the centre.

He is a former Melbourne Storm junior who, like Mervill, has turned out for the Dapto club based in New South Wales.

Ogden, yet another 23-year-old, has played half-back in league and union and is one of the top points scorers in the Queensland Cup for the past few seasons.

As for Mervill, he rejoins former team-mates Paul Ashton and Simeon Hoyle, who were part of the Keighley team which won the 2003 National League Two Grand Final.

• THE Roughyeds are reminding young supporters about the club's Halloween party and disco at the Alfred Street Social Club on Saturday.

It starts at 8pm with admission costing £4 for adults and £2 children, including supper. Roughyeds Kids members can get in free.

The club has also announced that its £10,000 Club Cash draw will be held on Saturday, December 16.

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