‘Woody’ back on the range

THE form of Ben Wood adds to competition for places in Scott Naylor’s Oldham squad.

BEN Wood’s season looked to be heading nowhere when he was dropped after Oldham’s first league defeat at Hunslet on Good Friday.

Wood’s left-centre spot eventually went to a late arrival, Jon Ford on dual registration from Salford Red Devils, and for the next few weeks big Ben was out in the cold, playing no first-team rugby from April 18-June 15, when he was reinvented among the subs as a forward.

Mixing it in the middle, Wood looked much more at home among the other big men and scored two of Oldham’s 10 tries in a 58-2 hammering of the Welsh. He did enough to keep his place at Gateshead where he was equally impressive in a much tougher and more demanding environment.

It remains to be seen whether he is in the 17 for Sunday’s game at Oxford — Scott Naylor has no shortage of options for forwards — but even if he isn’t he has already posted notice that he doesn’t intend to be ignored.

“I’ve liked what I’ve seen of Woody in the last two games,” said Naylor. “He’s been really good. He has added to the competition for pack places and it gives me a few headaches. We are winning games and are joint top of the division so it isn’t easy to make changes

“On the other hand I’m aware that we have some crucial games coming up in July and I need to be building towards getting out my strongest team for then.”

Tony Benson’s Blues, second from bottom, have lost five games in a row and haven’t won since mid-May when they beat South Wales 40-24 at home.

Naylor will warn his players to expect a tough reception at Iffley Road, like the one that was waiting for them at Gateshead.