Oldham await Boults fate
Doncaster hooker Kyle Kesik, sent off in the Oldham game at Whitebank on May Day, has escaped further punishment by the RFL disciplinary panel.
Jason Boults, the Roughyeds’ prop who was dismissed with him, will learn his fate when he goes in front of the panel in Leeds later today, accompanied by club chairman Chris Hamilton.
After the game referee Clint Sharrad said he had sent off Kesik for a high tackle on Boults, who was also directed to the dressing room because he retaliated.
The RFL later decided to take no further action against Kesik, concluding that sending off was sufficient punishment because ‘a swinging arm in the tackle did not appear to make direct contact with the head’.
Boults, who left the field with blood on his face, was subsequently charged with the grade ‘B’ offence of ‘striking with a knee’.
It was the second dismissal of the season for both players, Boults having received marching orders six days earlier at Whitehaven for hurling verbal abuse at referee Matthew Kidd.
He had gone more than ten years as a pro without once being sent off before he was dismissed twice in two matches. He got a one-match ban for the offence at Whitehaven and had to miss Oldham’s Carnegfie Challenge Cup tie at Hull last Saturday.
Another ban would also put him out of the Roughyeds’ league game against South Wales Scorpions at Caerphilly RU Club on Sunday (3pm kick off).
Roughyeds already have utility back Mark Brocklehurst ruled out of that game by suspension. He got a two-match ban for a dangerous throw at Whitehaven.
With wingers Lucas Onyango and John Gillam out injured and doubts still surrounding the fitness of centre Marcus St Hilaire, coach Tony Benson’s main selection decisions will involve the make-up of the threequarter line.
He expects to have several players back in contention after they missed the Hull cup tie, among them Neil Roden, Martin Roden, Ben Heaton, Carl Forber, Danny Whitmore and possibly Andy Isherwood.
He must also decide whether the club’s latest signing, centre Mick Fogerty, is ready to play his first game of the season or whether he needs more time to prepare.