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by ROGER HALSTEAD Back-row forward Tommy Goulden won Oldham's April player-of-the-month award, sponsored by Spindles Town Square Shopping, to follow in the footsteps of this season's previous winners James Coyle and Phil Joseph. Mike Flanagan, manager of Spindles, was a guest of the club at the Rochdale Hornets game last Sunday to present Tommy with his award on the pitch before kick-off. The former Rochdale back-row man has played in 12 of Oldham's 14 competitive games this season in all competitions, the last seven of them consecutively as left-side second-row. Despite the defeat at Keighley on April 13, Goulden did enough in the wins against York City Knights on March 30, Whitehaven on April 6 and Swinton in the Carnegie Challenge Cup on April 20 to lift the monthly award, which is a new initiative this season, backed by Spindles as part of their overall sponsorship of the Roughyeds. Said Tommy: "I think that only now I am starting to hit my best form again after a major reconstruction of my left wrist while I was playing for Rochdale. But I am certainly enjoying my rugby at Oldham. I've signed a two-year deal and the aim, as everyone knows, is that we should go all out for automatic promotion this time. "I don't think we have hit our best form yet. We have shown it in patches, but we are aiming for more consistency. If we can get that, and stay clear of too many injuries, I see no reason why we can't get that automatic spot for going up. "It was a disappointment to lose at Keighley, but overall we have won 11 of our 14 competitive games this season, we are unbeaten at Boundary Park and we are still in the Northern Rail Cup and the Carnegie Challenge Cup." Coach Steve Deakin added: "Tommy has had an outstanding month for us. In fact, I would say he has probably been one of the most consistent players from the start of the season. This award is just reward for his efforts." Centre Mick Nanyn picked up a calf muscle injury in Sunday's 24-14 defeat of Rochdale, but after the game Deaks said he didn't think it was serious or anything to cause too much concern. Gareth Langley also reported a sore shoulder after the game, but a more accurate assessment of these knocks -- or any others that might be reported --- will be available after the players report in this evening. Commenting on the debut of new loan signing Luke Menzies, the 19-year-old prop from Hull KR, Deaks said: "Luke did okay. One error apart, he came up with some good carries and he was tough around the rucks. Considering he had had only two sessions with us -- Thursday and Saturday -- he did okay and he certainly did enough to put pressure on others." Because the next game against Blackpool at Boundary Park is next Monday (May 5, Bank Holiday) instead of Sunday, there will be a slight adjustment to training schedules this week with the last session of the week being held not on Saturday as usual, but on the Sunday in preparation for the game the following day (3pm kick off). Before that, the Reserves take on Leigh Centurions at Sedgley Park on Thursday evening (7.30 kick off). Admission prices are £4 adults and £2 concessions and secure car parking is available inside the ground for £1. |
