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by ROGER HALSTEAD Lucas Onyango will be back on Oldham's wing in the Reserves against Rochdale Hornets reserves at Sedgley Park tomorrow (Thursday) night, kicking off at 7.30. That was confirmed by coach Steve Deakin today, who said the 26-year-old Kenyan flyer would probably need a couple of games in the second team in order to regain full match fitness and timing after six months out following a shoulder operation The winger last played in last season's NL2 Grand Final against Featherstone at Headingley last October and he says he is itching to get back. Interviewed in the Boundary Park hospitality suite before last Sunday's game against Whitehaven, Lucas said it was "no fun" watching from the stands and he couldn't wait to put on rugby boots again. He gave a brief account of his life story, from his boyhood days in Nairobi to playing for the Kenyan RU side in the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002 and then going on to play for Manchester RU before turning pro for Widnes and ultimately arriving at Oldham last season when he scored 18 tries for the Roughyeds in 23 appearances. He is now on a two-year contract with Oldham and he had this to say in his in-depth player profile in last Sunday's match-day magazine: "I had no hesitation in signing for Oldham last year. All the feedback I got was that Oldham was a great club to be at. Then I talked to Mr Bill (chairman Bill Quinn) and to Chris (chief executive Chris Hamilton) and I knew how much ambition there was. I am happy here and I was happy to sign on again for two years. "I have heard people say I remind them of Martin Offiah, but I don't model myself on anybody. To be honest, when they first said it at Widnes I had never heard of Martin Offiah. I know now what a great player he was. It is an honour to be spoken of in the same breath, but I just play the way I play, the way I have always played. "And I hope that one day I can achieve things in the game, not just for Lucas Onyango but for Oldham Rugby League Club." Another member of the Reserves team that will be on view tomorrow, full-back Anthony Bingham, accepted an invitation to train last night with the first-team squad after a series of good performances. Halifax born, the 22-year-old Bingham lives in Manchester. He played rugby league as a boy in Halifax, where he went to the same school as Jason Boults, but in more recent times he has been playing American Football. Deaks said he trained well, fitted into the session admirably, and enjoyed it. In normal circumstances others would also have been called up to get a taste of first-team training, he added, but most of the boys were heavily involved right now with end-of-season commitments at their amateur clubs, so opportunities for them will come later. Admission to the Reserves games at Sedgley Park is £4 adults and £2 for OAPs and children. Secure parking is available inside the ground for £1 --- all proceeds going to Roughyeds to offset the costs of running a second team. Bars will be open and refreshments will be available At first-team level, Deaks is optimistic that both Richard Mervill (dead leg) and Danny Halliwell (shoulder) will be fit to play at Keighley on Sunday when both teams will go into the game defending 100 per cent NL2 records thus far. Halliwell's injury has been diagnosed as bruising -- painful, but hopefully nothing that will keep him out of action. He did contact work last night as usual. Mervill, who has been on ice packs and anti-inflammatories since last weekend, did 70 minutes in the gym, including running on the treadmill. Added Deaks: "There is no tear to the thigh muscle, otherwise he would not have been able to do that. We'll leave final decisions on both of them for as long as possible, maybe until Saturday, but I am very hopeful at this stage that both will make it." Turnstile admission prices at Keighley (standing) are as follows: adults £11, OAPs £6, under-16s £4. A standing family ticket (two adults and two children) is available at £24 from Gate 4 at the Royal Ings Avenue end of the ground. For people who wish to sit down in the grandstand there is an additional charge of £1. |
