WITH only four home games left in the Betfred League 1 regular season, Oldham RLFC is keen to see an improvement in attendances.

Sunday’s all-time low of 274, which shocked even the most realistic regulars, brought down the average league-match attendance at the Vestacare Stadium this season to 475 and that’s way below what’s needed to balance the books.

Roger Halstead, a rugby league journalist in Oldham for more than 50 years and now the club’s volunteer media manager, is convinced the stay-aways would be pleasantly surprised by the standard of League 1 rugby.

He said: “The rugby is tough, competitive, skilful and exciting. It’s a different game to the one we used to watch at Watersheddings years ago, but it’s honest-to-goodness, genuine sport with young men giving their all and putting their bodies on the line.

“It’s all to play for, too. Only four points separate Oldham (third) and Doncaster (eighth) so every match matters.”

Anne Kearns, who is in the club’s hot seat while chairman Chris Hamilton is recovering from major heart surgery, added: “I’d like to target 500-plus for North Wales Crusaders and then a few more for Whitehaven and a few more again (that will be the big test) for Coventry. Bradford, our last home game, will take care of itself. We’ve seen one Oldham RL Club die. We don’t want to see it happen again.”

Roughyeds are in Betfred League 1 action at Keighley Cougars tonight (8pm).