Coach embarrassed over Roughyeds’ defeat

Scott Naylor: underwhelmed by his team's performance

SCOTT Naylor confessed to being embarrassed by the ease with which Hemel Stags scored seven tries in their 44-32 defeat of Oldham in Hertfordshire.

The players were locked in the dressing room with Naylor and assistant coach Lee Spencer for nearly 20 minutes after Roughyeds had conceded more points than in any other league game during Naylor’s time at Whitebank.

The Stags ended Oldham’s chance to go top of Championship One. For that to happen York had to lose at Gloucester, which they did 24-22.

At the half-way point of the season Oldham remain in third place, a point behind leaders Hunslet and with the points as second-placed York, who have a superior for-and-against record.

Naylor said: “We had a good few fans here and to see us defending so badly made me embarrassed.

“This is a wake-up call for us and I hope some of the guys who played are nervous about what might happen when I’m selecting the side for the next game.

“It’s no good playing well for two or three games and then thinking all you have to do is to turn up. Some of the boys looked as though they were too comfortable in ownership of their positions.

“Rugby league is too hard, too tough and too intense for anybody to go into a game without having the right attitude. If the bloke in front of you wants it more than you, then you would have been just as well staying at home.”

Oldham are at home on Sunday (3pm) to South Wales Scorpions, who put more than 40 points on London Skolars in the capital to pick up their first win of the season — one of several surprise results.