Naylor revved up for toughest test

Oldham warmed up for this weekend’s crunch clash with a thrilling 30-22 win against London Skolars

OLDHAM RL are revved up and "looking forward" to their clash in Wrexham on Sunday with unbeaten Kingstone Press Championship One leaders North Wales Crusaders.

That's the message from coach Scott Naylor as Roughyeds prepare for their biggest and toughest challenge of the season so far.

Crusaders, coached by former Welsh national boss Clive Griffiths and ex-Watersheddings favourite John Fieldhouse, stunned Oldham on the opening day of the season with a 48-12 Northern Rail Cup win at the Glyndwr University Racecourse Stadium.

They have since won each of their six Kingstone Press Championship One games with an average per game of 40 points scored and nine conceded. Their one tight win was at Oxford (12-4), but in their Welsh stronghold, where they have been pulling in the biggest attendances in the division, they have piled on 44, 52 and 66 points respectively against London Skolars, Gateshead Thunder and Gloucester All Golds.

Oldham's record against those same three teams compares favourably – three wins and scores of 30, 54 and 36, but with an aggregate 'against' of 38 against Crusaders' 18.

Naylor's third-placed young side, moreover, will go into battle against the 'Invincibles' (2.30pm kick-off) as one of the form teams of the division with four wins from their last five outings.

Said the Roughyeds boss, after last night's training session: "The boys are really looking forward to this one.

"They were bitterly disappointed with their own performances last time we went over there in the Northern Rail Cup and they are determined to do themselves justice this time.”