Oldham to meet Hunslet in final

SCOTT Naylor wasn’t surprised by Hunslet’s semi-final play-off victory at York - which set up an Oldham-Hunslet final at Headingley Carnegie on Sunday.

Despite York’s three league wins against their arch-rivals, Naylor has always said Hunslet’s greater experience would give the men from south Leeds a vital edge in cut-and-thrust play-off rugby.

They trailed 12-0 at half-time, but got on top in the second half at the Huntington Stadium to win 32-24, scoring 22 points in the last 20 minutes.

Full-back Jimmy Watson, hooker Liam Hood (two), centre Danny Maun and wingers Gavin Duffy and James Duckworth scored tries to take Hunslet through to a Grand Final showdown with Oldham.

“It was going to be tough whoever we were paired with,” said Oldham chairman Chris Hamilton.

“We’ve played Hunslet three times and beaten them twice, and each game has been very hard. We expect nothing less in the final.

“The way we have gone about our business in the play-offs, however, means we have to be quietly confident.”

Oldham were beaten 38-12 at Hunslet early in the season, but they won 24-23 at Whitebank in July, thanks to Josh Crowley’s last-minute try in the corner, and pipped them again 25-24 in a play-off thriller at the South Leeds Stadium two weeks ago.

Naylor gave his men the weekend off for rest and relaxation in readiness for tough prep sessions tomorrow night and again on Thursday.