Success no fluke - Hamilton

SCOTT Naylor and his young Oldham RL squad have done a "truly remarkable" job this season says club chairman Chris Hamilton. He believes they will go on to win promotion.

Having denied title rivals North Wales Crusaders a bonus point in a 28-10 win at Whitebank last Sunday, Naylor's boys are now the only team in the division to have picked up at least one point from every league game.

They have a five-point lead at the top and though Crusaders have two games in hand, Oldham are strongly fancied to win one of the promotion spots.

Said Hamilton: "Results on the field are no fluke. A year ago we changed things around in several areas in an attempt to create a different ethos. Regardless of what happens in the next few weeks, that has clearly been achieved.

"Several factors are involved – the quality of the coaches and their conditioner, Mike Hughes; the superb training facilities we use at Oasis Academy Oldham; and our careful selection of players when we were building the squad.

"We looked for more than ability, we wanted the right kind of people, also.

"We wanted young players who were keen to work hard in a tough environment, knowing that it would improve them.

"There were always going to be some who fell by the wayside, but throughout it all there was a collective determination to improve and develop.

"We now have a group who are so together, so focused and have so much belief in themselves, you can't put a price on it. They knew they could beat North Wales if they played to their strengths, and that's exactly what they did.”