Better team won on the day – Naylor

BATTLE: Oldham’s Danny Langtree (left) tries to hold off former Roughyeds star, Rochdale’s Chris Baines.

THOUGH it took a long-range drop goal by Paul Crook in the last minute to separate the sides, Oldham boss Scott Naylor readily conceded Rochdale were the better side in mastering dreadful conditions at a cold and drenched Whitebank.

The outcome of this play-off semi-final qualifier hinged on which side best performed the basics —— set completion, an astute kicking game, an ability to gain and maintain good field position and a kick-chase that could force errors.

Said a disappointed Naylor: “We were aware of the weather forecast, so we planned in advance for what was to come, but Rochdale played the conditions and did the little things a bit better than we did.

“That was the difference —- that and a bloke called Paul Crook.”

He added: “Crook’s kicking was outstanding. He was the difference between the sides. Congratulations to Rochdale. They played the right rugby on the day.

“We made too many mistakes coming away from our own line and we gifted Rochdale field position from the first minute to the last. That cost us the game.

“On a day like today it was always going to be about field position, but we didn’t play the game we set out to play and we paid for it.

“Play-off rugby is all about doing the right things on the day. Rochdale did that a little bit better than we did.

“There isn’t a lot between us. It’s 3-2 to us now over the five games we’ve had with them this season and we each seem to do better when playing away.

“We’ve now to put this behind us quickly, because we have another big game next Sunday against another quality side in London Skolars.”