PAUL March has spoken of his pride at making 400 career appearances as he set his sights on beating leaders Oldham this weekend.

The Cougars player-coach reached the landmark in last Sunday’s home win over Newcastle Thunder and is set to feature again when his injury-hit side make the short trip across the Pennines.

The Lancashire outfit are two points above second-placed Keighley at the top of the table, although March’s side have a game in hand on their promotion rivals.

The 36-year-old has played 73 games for the Cougars since 2012, and was previously with Hunslet (52 games, 2009-2011), York (37 games, 2008-2009), Wakefield (109 games, 1997-2001 and 2007) and Huddersfield (129 games, 2002-2006).

He said of his career milestone: “You play the game to achieve things, whether it be winning silverware or reaching landmarks such as this.

“I’m pleased I’ve reached 400 career appearances before I retire and I’m grateful for all the opportunities I’ve had under some very good coaches.

“I know I’ve had some opportunities when others probably deserved more than I did on ability, but I dug in there and kept on working hard.

“I got my rewards and I’m grateful for that, so now the next chapter of my career in coaching is beginning to unfold and hopefully I can stay in the game for as long as possible.”

March is ambitious about what he would like to achieve as a coach and admits he has the desire to make the grade at the highest level, as he did as a player.

He said: “Andy Kelly, who was my coach at Wakefield, gave me an opportunity when I was 16 and he’s a good family friend now.

“I played under Tony Smith at Huddersfield and I’ve worked with Steve McNamara when he was just getting into coaching at Huddersfield.

“I can see me going on to hopefully better things and I am ambitious about making the step up to Super League.

“Hopefully we can do that with Keighley. It’s going to take a long time but if you’ve got goals then there is always something to aim for.”

March shelved plans to retire at the end of last season due to a lengthy ban which sidelined him for several weeks.

He chose to play on and quit at the end of this year but said he would stay in shape next season in the event of Cougars suffering an injury crisis like the one they are currently enduring.

March’s squad has been decimated in recent weeks and several players remain long-term absentees.

But centre Hamish Barnes is available after suspension for Sunday’s visit to Oldham.

And March added: “Gavin Duffy will play in the reserves tonight at Dewsbury and come into contention for Sunday, while Paul White should also be available after injury.

“To beat Oldham at their place would be a massive statement of intent and I think we have done that all year.

“Every time we have played a big team we have always started the game well and gone on to do the job.

“Why can’t we do it again this weekend? We will look at what we need to put right from the Newcastle game and hopefully put together an 80-minute performance.”

Meanwhile, Andy Gabriel was voted as Cougars’ July Player of the Month with 41 votes.

David March came in second with six votes and Scott Law a creditable third with two votes.

Cougars’ trip to the University of Gloucestershire All Golds (Sunday, September 6) will now be played at the Beavis Memorial Ground, home of Cinderford RFC, due to the unavailability of the All Golds traditional home venue, the Prince of Wales Stadium, in Cheltenham on that day.