MATCH INFORMATION
OLDHAM RLFC v KEIGHLEY COUGARS - BETFRED LEAGUE ONE ROUND TWELVE
SUNDAY 16TH MARCH - 3PM KICK OFF
VESTACARE STADIUM, WHITEBANK - OLDHAM - OL8 3JH
REFEREE - MR KEVIN MOORE (NORMANTON)
ADMISSION:
ADULT - £14 (STANDING); £16 (SEATING)
CONCESSIONS - £12 (STANDING); £14 (SEATING)
JUNIORS - £2 (STANDING); £5 (SEATING)
RHYS LOVEGROVE APPOINTED HEAD COACH
KEIGHLEY Cougars can announce that Rhys Lovegrove has been appointed as Head Coach until the end of the 2020 season.
Rhys, aged 32, takes the top job at Cougar Park on a permanent basis after overseeing first team matters alongside Paul Royston since the end of May.
As a part of the new coaching structure at the Cougars, Rhys will be the Head Coach with Phil Larder working alongside Lovegrove in his role as Director of Coaching.
The remainder of the rugby management team will see Gary Moorby and Paul Moses as Head of First Team and Reserves Rugby and see Scott Lindsey serve as Assistant Coach to Rhys.
Dean Muir and Liam Bowness continue as the Head Coach and Assistant Coach of the club’s reserve grade with Paul Royston returning to his role as Head of Strength & Conditioning.
As a player, the former Australian schoolboy international began his professional career with St George-Illawarra Dragons before arriving in the United Kingdom in 2007 with the Hull Kingston Rovers.
After near a decade at Craven Park, Lovegrove had spells with the London Broncos and Bradford Bulls before switching codes and finishing his playing career with Wharfedale Rugby Union, where he was forced to retire from playing following a series of concussions.
He also represented Scotland on the international stage, who he qualifies for through his Mother, representing the Bravehearts in the 2008 and 2013 Rugby League World Cup.
Lovegrove’s coaching career began with Doncaster where he was Strength & Conditioning Coach but did have a successful caretaker spell alongside Pete Green in which time the South Yorkshire side went on a 5-game winning streak.
Rhys then joined the Cougars originally in January as Assistant Coach before stepping up last month and has now been appointed to the Head Coach role permanently.
Speaking of being appointed as Head Coach, Lovegrove said: “I’m happy to be appointed as Head Coach of Keighley Cougars.
“This is a grand old lady of Rugby League with lots of history and a superb fan base.
“I’m looking forward to taking this great club forward and building towards the future.”
Chairman Mick O’Neill added: “We are very pleased to appoint Rhys as Head Coach of the Keighley Cougars.
“Rhys is a talented young coach and we are really excited with what he brings to the club and everyone in the club likes Rhys.
“We understand that taking the top job at a young age that there can be a lot of pressure on him which is why it is important to have Phil Larder working alongside him and we wish him all the success in the world.
“And for me personally, it’s good to have an Aussie around. It will keep my sane!”
TEAM NEWS
Rhys Lovegrove has named his first 19 man squad since being appointed as Head Coach on a permanent basis ahead of Sunday's trip to Oldham.
Four changes have been forced with Benn Hardcastle and Matt Nicholson (both concussion) sidelined through injury and Louis Sheriff unavailable due to work commitments.
The other forced change is that of Harvey Hallas as the prop is a part of his parent club Dewsbury Rams squad that has travelled to Canada to face the Toronto Wolfpack.
The other changes made by Lovegrove see Taylor Prell and Kieran Moran drop out of the side.
Coming into the side is Ryan Wright, who returned to the club on loan from Hunslet this week, and also Alfie Seeley following an arm injury that forced him to sit out last week's defeat to Hunslet.
Rhys has also called up reserves duo Jordan Aitchison and Cain Crotty, with the former expected to debut at Whitebank.
Lewis Wray also returns following the head injury he sustained in last month's reverse fixture against Oldham.
COUGARS: Aitchison; Bailey; Cooke; Coventry; Crotty; Cullimore; Dixon; Feather; Hallett; Horn; Lynam; Miller; Muranka; Parker; Seeley; Thackray; Welham; Wray; Wright.
Scott Naylor brings Paul Crook and Jamie Greenwood back into his side after they sat out last week's loss.
Nick Gregson also comes into the Oldham side on dual-registration from the Leigh Centurions.
Phil Joy, Matty Wilkinson and Wakefield loanee Titus Gwaze are the three men who miss out following the defeat to Doncaster, the latter has been recalled by his parent club.
OLDHAM: Aaronson; Bent; Bowman; Bridge; Brook; Crook; Davies; Gregson; Greenwood; Hawkyard; Hewitt; Holmes; Langtree; Law; Maders; McComb; Owen; Spencer; Whittel.
ROYSTON CALLS FOR UNITY
'LET'S stick together' is the message from Keighley Cougars as they look to stop their slide of four successive defeats this weekend.
Paul Royston, Cougars' strength and conditioning coach, says he understands the club's fans getting nervous after a run of four heavy losses over the last few weeks.
Cougars look to arrest this horror run when they travel to Oldham, who themselves crashed to a 31-0 defeat at Doncaster last weekend.
Keighley are looking to bounce back from a 34-0 reverse at Hunslet last Friday night, with Royston hoping his side can improve their mentality.
He said: "I would expect the fans to be disappointed, we are in it together.
"We want the best for the club as well. We had a better start to the season than we hoped for. But we have had a reality check.
"We always saw this as a building year. The players have tried their best. We are looking to recruit to lift us for next season. That's the medium-term goal.
"I would say to the fans to stick with us. It's a learning curve."
Cougars have had a woeful six weeks, losing their last four league and cup games. Over those matches they have conceded 164 points, scoring just 36. They include a 52-12 defeat to this weekend's opponents, Oldham, at Cougar Park last month.
Royston added: "We are looking at what changes we can make in terms of personnel for the improvement of results. At times we did play OK at Hunslet, but they took their chances.
"We've got to somehow lift the players. They are training really well. Rugby league is a really tough game.
"There is a lot of work to be done. I was surprised by Oldham's result last weekend, as we have beaten Doncaster this season. I am more bothered about us.
"When you slip to four defeats like we have it's definitely a mentality thing.
"I want to see that if we end up going behind in games will we stick together? Are we going to fight and minimise what they are going to do? "
Benn Hardcastle faces a spell on the sidelines after going off with a concussion in Cougars' derby defeat, which has given Royston cause for concern.
Royston said: "I can't believe the number of concussions we have had this year. We have not been able to see much of Matt Nicholson this season after he suffered a concussion. It's a worry, we have had quite a few. Lewis Wray has had quite a few. We will have o see where Benn is."
CHERNOBYL CHILDREN TO BE FLAG BEARERS
Six Chernobyl children, who are living in Oldham with host families for a month, will get their first taste of rugby league in Oldham’s Betfred League 1 home game against Keighley Cougars on Sunday.
Aged between nine and 11, the three boys and three girls, and their host families, will be guests of the Oldham club.
The children, from Belarus, will be Oldham flag bearers and will also take part in a half-time challenge in which they will try to hit the crossbar when kicking a ball from the 20-metre line.
The Oldham branch of Chernobyl Childrens’ Lifeline, meanwhile, will ask fans to contribute to a bucket collection.
Funds raised will go towards a recuperation programme in which children from Belarus and Northern Ukraine, who still suffer the effects of low-level radiation from the nuclear accident at Chernobyl in 1986, come to Britain for respite and stay for a month at a time with host families.
Formed 30 years ago by Theresa Novotny, who is still active as the local leader, the Oldham Link provides host families and raises funds for air fares, visas, clothing, trips and transport.
Mark Albiston of Lees, a local host, said: “My wife and I don’t speak Russian and the children don’t speak English, but we learn to understand each other.
“They’re great kids, very under-privileged and in need of help, for which they are extremely grateful.
“Going to a rugby league match, indeed going to any sporting event, will be a new experience for them and they’ll love it, especially carrying the flag out on to the pitch.
“A big thank-you to Oldham for thinking about us and inviting us to the game.”
Club chairman Chris Hamilton said: “The people who work hard for these children do a great job and deserve our support. Oldham RLFC is pleased to help.”