Oldham sign former Halifax youngster

Oldham have signed former Halifax youngster Niall Bradley.

Bradley, 21, scored two tries for the Roughyeds’ Under 20s team on Friday in a 46-22 win over Rochdale, having been cut by Halifax as part of the shake-up below first team level.

A centre, Bradley was born in Oldham and previously played for the Waterhead amateur club.

Oldham coach Scott Naylor said: “Niall has been training with us for a couple of months, but he needed minor surgery on a knee so that held things up.

“Friday’s game against Rochdale was his first since the operation, but he came through that okay and scored a couple of tries in the bargain.

“He’s a young centre who needs a game or two to regain full match fitness, so he will have to keep working hard and making progress in the under-20s.”

Oldham travel to face new side Gloucestershire All Golds in their second Championship 1 game in Cheltenham on Sunday.

Bradley added: “I had the knee operation a month ago, and it stood up well to my first game back.

“I’ve been out of action for a while, but it’s great to get this opportunity to get back into it with my hometown club. I intend to work hard, to learn and to become a better player.

“I played town-team rugby for Oldham when I was growing up at Waterhead and now I’m looking forward to seeing what I can do for my town’s professional club.”