Lions chairman helps rivals

Keighley are using oxygen chambers to speed up the return of their injured players, thanks to help from Swinton chairman John Kidd.

The Cougars are without several key forward as well as Brendan Rawlins, who is still embroiled in a wrangle over his working visa.

Keighley chairman Neil Spencer was offered the use of the hyperbaric-therapy unit at Physio02, a physiotherapy practice based in Walkden, near Swinton, which is a business interest of Lions’ Chairman Kidd.

Cougar back rower Carl Hughes (twisted ankle ligaments) and prop Craig Brown (swollen foot) had spells in the chamber last Thursday and Friday while Scott Law (neck injury) and Karl Gunney (torn hamstring) made the trip for treatment across the Pennines.

Hughes and Brown were scheduled for a further spell of treatment in the chamber on Tuesday.

Head Coach Barry Eaton said: “This just shows what a tight knit community exists in Rugby League. As soon as John Kidd heard about our problem he didn’t hesitate and offered our players the opportunity of utilising this advanced treatment.

“Although its one of John’s businesses he knows that Cougars are a rival club and we’re both chasing end-of-season play-off spots. We really certainly appreciated the gesture and hope it speeds the guys back into fitness.”

The unit has previously been used by Warrington captain Adrian Morley and former Great Britain skipper Paul Sculthorpe.

Keighley’s next game is against Blackpool on Sunday.