FORMER SADDLEWORTH Rangers youngster Jarrod Ward has made an exciting start to life at Oldham Rugby League Club.
Two tries on his debut and then another in his second game helped Roughyeds to prepare for the forthcoming Kingstone Press League One season with success in the early rounds of two separate cup competitions, the iPro Sport League One Cup and the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup.
The 21-year-old, a versatile utility back who can play wing, full-back or centre, has made an early impression at Whitebank on the left wing, having been handed the No 5 jersey when 2015 squad numbers were announced ahead of the opening game against new boys Coventry Bears at home in the first round of the new iPro Sport-backed competition.
Power, pace and twinkling feet enabled him to score twice in the corner, through packed defences, in the Roughyeds’ impressive 42-6 win, achieved in dreadful conditions on a wet, windy and bitterly-cold afternoon.
By a strange quirk of sporting fate, Coventry were drawn to make a return appearance to the same venue seven days later in the third round of the Challenge Cup.
This time Ward didn’t see as much of the ball, but he added to his try tally with a touchdown early in the game as Scott Naylor’s men coasted to another comfortable cup triumph, this time scoring nine tries in a 46-6 success.
Early signs suggest that Ward, on the left flank, and Adam Clay, on the right will emulate the try-scoring achievements of last year’s wingers, Dale Bloomfield and Mo Agoro, who totalled 21 and 18 respectively.
Indeed, Oldham will be rejoicing that they beat off competition from several rivals to capture Ward’s signature on a one-year deal.
Since leaving the junior section at Saddleworth, he has developed his game at Salford Red Devils, Bradford Bulls and Halifax.
Last season he went on loan from Halifax to the University of Gloucester All Golds and it was there, playing against his home-town club, that Oldham spotted the potential of the young man who, as a boy, had crossed paths with Roughyeds assistant coach Lee Spencer when both were at Salford.
He had already played for Oldham town-team under-13s when he was first scouted by the Red Devils and he went on to represent the town at under-14s and under-15s levels, earning an invitation to attend regional and national development squads.
Naylor is hoping the lad, who first played the game at Shaw Hall Bank Road, will continue to run in the tries in cup rugby, ahead of the League One campaign, which opens up with a derby at Rochdale Hornets on Good Friday, April 3 (3pm) and then brings Coventry back to Whitebank for a third time in the first home league game on Sunday, April 12 (3pm).
You must be logged in to post a comment.