Let Hawks have it, says Naylor

Photo: PICTURE by Paul Sterritt

PERFECT PLACEMENT: Lewis Palfrey prepares to kick at goal in the win over Gateshead.

OLDHAM RL head into Friday’s Championship One top of the table clash at Hunslet Hawks as the only unbeaten side in the division.

Oxford had a surprise win at York yesterday, opening a path for Oldham to return to second place, two points behind Hunslet with a game in hand.

“It’s going to be our toughest game of the season,” said Roughyeds boss Scott Naylor. “We’ll need all hands on deck, and that means fans as well, as many as can get there to get behind us vocally.”

While Oldham were scoring 10 tries against Gateshead Thunder in a 52-16 win, Hunslet were winning comfortably at Gloucester All Golds.

But they have already been beaten at the South Leeds Stadium this season – by York.

Coaching staff and players were in buoyant mood after hitting Gateshead with their best performance of the season to date.

Revealing that alterations in strategy have taken place on training nights, Naylor added: “We’ve moved things around a bit over the past three or four weeks. I don’t want to go into detail, but it seems it might be having the desired affect.

“A lot of what we’ve been doing was put into use against Gateshead. It was good to see the players responding to it.”