Profile

Rothwell “Rod” Marlor, signed for Oldham from the Salem Rangers club in December 1913. This being just after the capture of Herman Hilton, it is safe to say that never have the club been so dually fortunate in plundering the local amateur ranks, as with these two fine forwards.

Rod was an uncompromising prop forward, renowned for bone crunching tackles, but also noted for good field kicking. Indeed he was often entrusted with the job of taking the restart kicks, so adept was he at precisely despatching the oval leather.

After the resumption of competitive Rugby after the First World War, he quickly established himself as a regular member of the Oldham front row, picking up England and Lancashire honours along the way. His enthusiasm in support play was always a feature of his game, a talent which saw him second top try scorer with 13 in the 1920-21 season. A fantastic figure for a prop in those days, only the emerging Reg Farrar did better.

A vigorous and forceful scrummager throughout his career, Rod played in the last three of the club’s four consecutive Challenge Cup Final appearances in the 1920’s. The match against Wigan Highfield on October 24th, 1925 was declared as his benefit game. He played his last senior game for Oldham at Pontypridd in October, 1927.