Hamilton disappointed by “lopsided view”
Oldham chairman Chris Hamilton says he is disappointed with the disciplinary charges handed down to four of his players following the derby clash with Rochdale.
Danny Whitmore, Martin Roden and Jamie Dallimore are in hot water for throwing punches in a 59th-minute fight.
Hooker John Clough could be banned for up to EIGHT matches if he is found guilty of pushing Rochdale’s Adam Bowman into the perimeter wall in the dying seconds of an acrimonious battle, which Hornets won 18-10.
But only one Rochdale player, Bowman, has been charged for his part in the 59th-minute bust-up.
It started when Oldham’s young forward Alex Thompson took a high shot for which Roughyeds were awarded a penalty.
With the game finely balanced at 16-10 to Hornets, Thompson was the only player to be sin-binned — for alleged retaliation.
He was led from the field protesting his innocence and the RFL’s match review panel has supported his claim by finding him NOT GUILTY of fighting.
It was while Oldham were down to 12 men that Hornets landed the penalty goal that gave them an eight-point cushion.
To rub salt into Roughyeds’ wounds, they now have four players on charges to Rochdale’s one.
Said club chairman Chris Hamilton: “That gives something of a lopsided version of events.
“In the 15 years that the new Oldham club has been in existence it’s the first time we’ve had four players charged in one game. That’s not good. But anyone who was there will know what I mean when I say it takes two to tango.”
Roden, Dallimore and Rochdale’s Bowman each faces a grade A punching charge which means they could be banned for one game or escape with no further action.
Whitmore is on a more serious grade C charge of sustained punching with a likely punishment, if found guilty, of suspension for two to three matches.
The club’s main concern is for Clough, whose grade E charge carries with it a recommended ban of four to eight matches.
He is charged with ‘conduct against the spirit of the game… pushing an opponent into a wall’.
Oldham will enter early-guilty pleas for Roden and Dallimore, which means they will escape a ban and get away with a warning. A player, however, can use the early-guilty option only once in any 12-month period.
That leaves Clough and Whitmore, two of the club’s three front-line hookers.
Clough will make a personal appearance before the disciplinary tribunal next Tuesday, supported by club chairman Hamilton.
He added: “We will probably do likewise with Danny Whitmore, but before we make a final decision I want to further study the match DVD and speak to the player. I’ve spoken to John Clough, but not to Danny.”